former Department of Defense Auditor sentenced to two years probation and $5000 fine

Anchorage, Alaska-U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that an Anchorage woman was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for violating conflict of interest laws by representing a contractor on issues she previously handled for the government.    

Jodi Ann Andres, 48, of Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced July 22, 2013, by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason to two years’ probation and ordered to pay a $5000 fine.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Retta-Rae Randall, who prosecuted the case, and information presented in court, Andres was an auditor with the Department of Defense’s Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) from January 2003 to September 2006.  During that time, she was the primary auditor of cost proposals, labor rates and claims for the Missile Defense Agency.  The Missile Defense Agency is responsible for developing, testing and fielding an integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System for the United States.

The Alaska Aerospace Corporation, formerly the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, was established in 1991 by the State of Alaska to develop a high technology aerospace industry in the state.  Alaska Aerospace became a contractor for the Missile Defense Agency in 2003, when pursuant to a five year contract; Alaska Aerospace provided support for launches from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Kodiak, Alaska. 

In September 2006, Andres left employment with the DCAA and began employment with Alaska Aerospace as its Controller.  In July 2008 Andres represented Alaska Aerospace during communications and negotiations with the DCAA about the same Missile Defense Agency contract she had previously audited, with the intent to influence the DCAA about that contract, in violation of a lifetime restriction which barred such communications.  

Ms. Loeffler commends the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, for the investigation of this case and the Defense Contract Audit Agency who referred the matter to the Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service