Duo pleads guilty to defrauding AF

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Jerry T. Vertefeuille, 53, of Niceville, and Christopher A. Carter, 37, of Fort Walton Beach, pleaded guilty July 11 and June 28 respectively to conspiracy and bribery of a public official. Vertefeuille also pleaded guilty to obtaining and disclosing procurement information. The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Christopher P. Canova. Vertefeuille was a federal government contracting officer for the 96th Test Wing Maintenance Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where he oversaw maintenance work and initially approving purchases and invoices. In 2007-14, Vertefeuille assisted Carter, owner of TCC Services Unlimited LLC, win a paint booth maintenance contract, and multiple contract renewals. Vertefeuille received kickbacks in exchange for okaying Carter’s fraudulent invoices and recommending renewal of TCC’s contract. An investigation later revealed TCC, and another contractor, submitted invoices for payment to the Air Force for identical work. For the conspiracy charge, the defendants face a maximum of 20 years. For bribery, they face a maximum of 15 years. For obtaining and disclosing procurement information, Vertefeuille also faces a maximum of 5 years. Sentencing hearings are slated for Sept. 26 in Pensacola. (Source: The StL News 07/13/18)