Former U.S. Army range director pleads guilty to conspiracy

News Release from USDoJ, Nov 12, 2019

HONOLULU, Hawaii – Victor Garo, 67, of Mililani, Hawaii, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of conspiracy to accept over $100,000 in bribes and one count of illegally transporting firearms across state lines. Garo admitted that he helped steer federal contracts worth more than $18 million to a contractor. Sentencing is scheduled for March 2020 before Chief U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price for the District of Hawaii, Special Agent in Charge Ray Park of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (Army CID), Special Agent in Charge Bryan Denny of the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and Special Agent in Charge Eli S. Miranda of FBI’s Honolulu Field Office made the announcement.

U.S. Attorney Price stated that according to court documents and information presented in court, from 2011 to 2018, Garo, while employed as the range director at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, accepted over $100,000 worth of bribes from an employee of a federal contractor that sought and received business from the U.S. Army. The bribes included cash, automobiles, and firearms. In return, Garo used his position to benefit the contractor in securing U.S. Army contracts. Garo is the third public official to plead guilty as a result of an ongoing investigation into fraud and bribery at Schofield Barracks.

The case was investigated by Army CID, DCIS, FBI, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency. It was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Laura Connelly and Assistant Chief Justin Weitz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Wallenstein for the District of Hawaii.  

  *   *   *   *   *

Statement regarding U.S. Department of Justice press release

News release from U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii & U.S. Army Hawaii

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii (Nov. 13, 2019) - In a press release today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that a former U.S. Army Hawaii range director pleaded guilty to conspiracy, Tuesday.

Mr. Vic Garo pleaded guilty to a "two-count information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one count of illegally transporting firearms across state lines," according to the Dept. of Justice. Sentencing is scheduled for March 2020. Garo served as a supervisory range officer for the U.S. Army Hawaii Range Division at Schofield Barracks from January 2002-March 2019.

U.S. Army Hawaii is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards and fully supports the thorough investigation and prosecution of suspected cases of fraud, waste or abuse.

We continue to emphasize to our personnel that, as federal employees, they play a critical role in ensuring the legal, ethical and appropriate use of resources entrusted to us. If at any time they suspect wrongdoing, they are urged to contact authorities.

U.S. Army Hawaii will continue to support the efforts of the Army Criminal Investigation Command, the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the FBI, and the Justice Department in this matter.

Questions regarding this case should be directed to the Department of Justice.

- 30 -

U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) - We are the Army's Home

  *   *   *   *   *

Background:

Sept, 2019: Feds: Hawaii Firm Bribed Schofield Employees to get Contracts

May, 2019: Schofield Manager Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy