U.S. hired ex-con as Iraq project controller

[Judi Lynn]

Nov. 17, 2005, 11:46PM

U.S. hired ex-con as Iraq project controller
Man accused of taking bribes was in charge of $82 million for rebuilding efforts
New York Times

A North Carolina man who was charged Thursday with accepting kickbacks and bribes was hired as a controller and financial officer for the American occupation authority in Iraq despite having served prison time for felony fraud in the 1990s.

The job gave the man, Robert J. Stein, control over $82 million in cash earmarked for Iraqi rebuilding projects.

Along with a web of other conspirators who have not yet been named, Stein and his wife received "bribes, kickbacks and gratuities amounting to at least $200,000 per month" to steer lucrative construction contracts to companies run by another American, Philip H. Bloom, an affidavit outlining the criminal complaint says. Stein's wife, who was not named, has not been charged in the case.
(snip)

But the list of charges does little justice to the astonishing brazenness of the accusations described in the complaint, including a wire transfer of a $140,000 bribe, arranged by Bloom, to buy real estate for Stein in North Carolina. The affidavit also says that $65,762.63 was spent to buy cars for the Steins, $44,471 for home improvements and $48,073 for jewelry out of $258,000 sent into credit union accounts controlled by the Steins.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/world/3469602
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[pinniped]

1. And this is just one of the guys who got caught.

All the others have escaped thus far.

Loser bremer is the first name that comes to mind.

[Hekate]

2. Astonishing brazenness describes the entire Bush cabal and regime

:kick:

Hekate

[truthisfreedom]

3. which is why it makes good news. one wonders whether the media was

complict with bushco because they knew they could make a huge windfall once they turned on bush and company.

[Dover]

4. Ex-con, Neocon, Republi-con........6 of one, half dozen of another.

They are all thieves, liars, and murderers working for their Godfathers in the corporate world.

[RedEarth]

5. Good grief ... that's unbelievable