Former CG petty officer pleads guilty

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A former petty officer in charge of coordinating freight between Coast Guard bases throughout the U.S. pleaded guilty Friday to accepting bribes and fraud.

Nathan Dunn, 30, pleaded guilty to accepting more than $220,000 in bribes as a public official as well as wire fraud.

"In two years, Mr. Dunn took in bribes in exchange for using his position to award over-priced and false contracts for favored shipping companies," U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride said. "Rooting out criminals who abuse the public's trust strengthens the integrity of - and our confidence in - the government's procurement process."

MacBride said Dunn allegedly worked with a co-conspirator, an owner of several freight brokerage companies based in Alabama.

The co-conspirator would allegedly offer bribes to Dunn when he would issue contracts with the US Coast Guard. Dunn not only accepted the bribes, but also created fraudulent contracts for shipments that did not exist, awarding the profits to his co-conspirator, according to MacBride.

MacBride said Dunn's operation is said to have cost the United States more than $1 million in losses.

Dunn was indicted in May 2012 and could face a maximum of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced April 23, 2013.