Federal prosecutors are preparing to seek indictments against a former top CIA official and a San Diego defense contractor linked to the bribery scandal that sent former U.S. Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham to prison, two government officials familiar with the investigation said Wednesday.
The officials, who spoke to The Associated Press only on condition of anonymity because grand jury proceedings are secret and the charges have not been finalized, said prosecutors plan to ask a San Diego grand jury to return charges of honest services fraud and conspiracy against Kyle “Dusty” Foggo and Brent Wilkes….
Honest services fraud is a combination of mail and wire fraud often used in public corruption cases involving officials who have engaged in a pattern of improper activities, such as accepting gifts, trips or promises of future employment from private individuals.
The officials said a second indictment is being prepared that would charge Wilkes and two other alleged Cunningham co-conspirators – New York businessman Thomas Kontogiannis and his nephew, John T. Michael – with bribery and several conspiracy counts.
The indictments are likely to be returned within the next few weeks, the officials said.
For a refresher on why prosecutors are going after Foggo, see our reference entry on him here. More here.
