Guard Official Pleads Guilty

An Army National Guard official pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting a $30,000 bribe for directing a $3.6 million contract to a retired Minnesota Army National Guard official and his consulting firm, the Justice Department announced.

Jason Rappoccio pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one count of bribery, the department added. He will be sentenced on May 22.

According to the Justice Department, Rappoccio, a sergeant first class, was bribed by Timothy Bebus, a retired sergeant major and the owner of Mil-Team Consulting and Solutions, and recommended a $3.6 million contract be awarded to Mil-Team. The Justice Department said Bebus gave Rappoccio $6,000 in cash at a meeting in Arlington, VA, and paid the remaining $24,000 using a cashier's check made out to Rappoccio's wife.