FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MONDAY - August 15, 2011
FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON
GREENVILLE - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court on August 11, 2011, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced JOSEPH J. MARAK, 51, of Grand Junction, Colorado, to 72 months’ imprisonment followed by three years’ supervised release. The Court also ordered forfeiture of $365,300.
A Federal Grand Jury returned a 35-count Criminal Indictment on September 23, 2010.On April 8, 2011, a jury found MARAK guilty on all counts, which included 1 count of extortion affecting interstate commerce induced by fear under the color of right, 17 counts of bribery, and 17 counts of gratuity.
According to the investigation, MARAK, a former Medical Plans Specialist with the Command Surgeons Office of the United States Army Special Operations Command, was responsible for purchasing emergency medical and search and rescue equipment for the military. Prior to 2005, MARAK contacted numerous civilian medical manufactures and suppliers to equip tactical military vehicles with Casualty Evacuation Medical Equipment Sets (CASEVAC). These sets are a two-part litter pack mounted on a vehicle that can be easily torn away from the vehicle to retrieve the injured or deceased from a distance.
In January, 2005, MARAK contacted two companies, Special Operations Technologies, Inc. and Skedco, Inc., to form a joint venture to design and develop an updated version of the special medical sets. Once an agreement was reached, MARAK directed the
development of the sets. MARAK started demanding compensation and post-government employment from each company for his contributions. In 2006, the military approved the kits and purchased 2,764. Shortly thereafter, MARAK submitted his resignation to the government and began working as an independent contractor with Skedco. As a result of his demands for compensation and post-government employment, MARAK received more than $13,000 in cash and other payments while still employed with the government, and an additional $350,000 in the first six months following his resignation
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Defense Criminal Investigation Service with assistance from the Army Criminal Investigative Division (MPFU).
News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
