2006.08.11: August 11, 2006: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Iraq: Crime: Harper's Magazine: Philippines RPCV Philip Bloom implicated as co-conspirator in an indictment against Robert J. Stein, an employee of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq in 2003 and 2004
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2005.11.17: November 17, 2005: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Business: Iraq: Crime: News Journal: Philippines RPCV Phil Bloom charged in Iraq Contracts Case :
2006.08.11: August 11, 2006: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Iraq: Crime: Harper's Magazine: Philippines RPCV Philip Bloom implicated as co-conspirator in an indictment against Robert J. Stein, an employee of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq in 2003 and 2004
Philippines RPCV Philip Bloom implicated as co-conspirator in an indictment against Robert J. Stein, an employee of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq in 2003 and 2004
Philip H. Bloom, a U.S. citizen who has lived in Romania for many years, was arrested in 2005 at Newark International Airport in New Jersey. He made a brief appearance Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington and remains in federal custody. Prosecutors at the court hearing did not detail the charges against Bloom, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson said they involve money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the government. A government affidavit alleges that Bloom conspired with officials of the Coalition Provisional Authority and U.S. military to rig bids for contracts in Al-Hillah and Karbala, two cities 50 to 60 miles south of Baghdad.
Robert J. Stein was responsible for $82 million in CPA reconstruction funds. In February 2006 he pleaded guilty to five felony counts, admitting he stole more than $2 million and funneled $9 million in contracts to Bloom. Following are emails between Robert J. Stein, Philip Bloom, and Army Reserve officers implicated as co-conspirators.
Philippines RPCV Philip Bloom implicated as co-conspirator in an indictment against Robert J. Stein, an employee of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq in 2003 and 2004
Green Zone
Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006. From emails between Robert J. Stein, Philip Bloom, and Army Reserve officers implicated as co-conspirators in an indictment against Stein, an employee of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. Stein was responsible for $82 million in CPA reconstruction funds. In February he pleaded guilty to five felony counts, admitting he stole more than $2 million and funneled $9 million in contracts to Bloom. Originally from Harper's Magazine, June 2006.
Sources
From: Bob
To: Phil
FYI, [redacted] and I got the contract through for ground prep at the police academy. I will give you 200K sometime tomorrow afternoon.
I love to give you money!
From: Bob
To: Phil
I was talking to [redacted] about your next set of projects. He is ready to award everything to you but asked me if there was any way we could use a name other than your company's? He wants to make sure it doesn't look like all the work is going to you. If you can, put your bid on new letterhead. I can award it tomorrow. Sorry to be so businesslike. I would love to slow down just for a few days and relax but I need to take care of all this stuff.
From: Phil
To: Bob
I will do that. Since we are paid in cash it doesn't really matter tax-wise . . . See you tomorrow.
From: Bob
To: Phil
Curious about what [redacted] had to say. I will warn you to be very careful what you say around him. If he ever knows what we are doing he will want “his cut”! Remember what I told you, he is a player trying to get whatever he can. If he ever knows something about a person he will use it to his advantage. We have come only a short way and we have much further to go. The fewer people who know what we are doing the better.
From: Bob
To: Phil
Thanks for the booze. That will give me some bargaining material here and there. I am not worried.
From: Bob
To: Phil
The watches arrived last night and [redacted] is happy for now. He told me you are going to get a Rolex for his wife. That's fine. [Redacted] saw them and liked them. I'll probably give him my watch and just get another one for me. I want to keep him happy and on our side.
From: [Redacted]
To: Phil
Hi Phil, Here is the info you requested on the SUV I'd like, a 2004 GMC Yukon Denali All- Wheel Drive. Let me know how I can help you with the local stuff.
From: [Redacted]
To: Phil
The truck is Great!!! People I work with cannot stop commenting on how much they love it. It drives real smooth like a sedan.
As you know, Bob and I keep in touch. He told me the way these State Dept. guys are jerking you around. A friend who is working for them said they have a huge number of vacancies for Baghdad and Kuwait. The State Dept. can't get anyone to serve there. That means they'll have to start closing these places. They can't keep them staffed. So don't worry about the State Dept. jerks. If there were any smoking guns, they would have been found months ago.
Take care of yourself and make sure you stay safe. Nothing in Iraq is worth dying for.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: August, 2006; Peace Corps Philippines; Directory of Philippines RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Philippines RPCVs; Iraq; Crime
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Story Source: Harper's Magazine
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Philippines; Iraq; Crime
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