NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announces that ERIK MARTIN, aged 48, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, to a Bill of Information charging him with Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 201(b)(2). MARTIN faces up to five years imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory special assessment of $100. Sentencing is set for April 27, 2021, in front of the Honorable Judge Wendy B. Vitter.
According to the Factual Basis, in 2019, MARTIN was a civilian employee of the United States Marines Corps Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) Distribution Management Office (DMO), located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Darrel Fitzpatrick was a Senior National Account Manager at Company A, a bus brokerage company based in Atlanta, Georgia. MARTIN accepted bribes in exchange for directing transportation contracts to businesses associated with Darrel Fitzpatrick. The conspiracy resulted in at least $1.9 million in transportation contracts being corruptly awarded to companies associated with Fitzpatrick. In exchange for steering contracts to Fitzpatrick, MARTIN agreed to accept $250,000 in bribes.
U. S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the United States Secret Service for their investigation in this case. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Myles Ranier.