Scott Geary, 54, of De Soto pleaded guilty today (Dec. 15) to “conspiracy to steal government funds through a kickback scheme involving contracts with the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office reports.
“In all, Geary admitted that more than $270,000 in unnecessary work was billed to the government through this scheme,” the report said.
According to the plea agreement, Geary and others arranged contracts “for unnecessary maintenance and construction projects at the Cochran facility,” and all the contracts were just below $2,500, which meant no bids were required before awarding them, according to the report.
“Initially, Geary served as the outside contractor and kicked a portion of each contract back to the VA official who steered him the work,” the report said. “Later Geary was hired on at the Cochran facility and recruited a new outside contractor. This new contractor then paid a portion of his contracts to both Geary and the original VA official.”
Geary pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal government funds before Judge Henry E. Autrey.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 15.
Geary faces up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, and the government will seek restitution, the report said.
An investigation into the others involved in the scheme is ongoing, according to the report.
Assistant U.S. attorney Tom Albus is handling the case.