Bettendorf City Employee Sentenced to Prison for Bribery

DAVENPORT, IA - On March 16, 2017, Robert W. Webster, heather Jean Reekr66, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 12 months and one day in prison for conspiracy to bribe a public official, 12 months and one day on each of two counts of bribery of a public official, the sentences to run concurrently, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. Webster was fined $50,000 and will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment. Chief Judge Jarvey ordered Webster to pay $300 in assessments.

On July 22, 2016, Webster pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery from as early as 2004 until July of 2010 concerning programs receiving federal funds, and two additional counts charging bribery on March 27, 2009, and September 18, 2009, concerning programs receiving federal funds.

As part of a written plea agreement, Webster admitted he was the Bettendorf City Electrician and for several years he received payments from Brown Traffic Products (BTP), Inc., and its subsidiary Traffic Systems Solution Company. Payments included travel, meals, drinks, entertainment and other expenses – such as tickets to NASCAR events in Las Vegas and Chicago and trips to business conferences, to reward and influence him to conduct business with BTP. Webster admitted on March 27, 2009, his wife received a check for $2,700 for a trip funded by BTP. Webster also admitted on September 18, 2009, he received golfing fees in Gilbert, Arizona, from an employee of BTP to reward and influence him.

During the sentencing hearing, Chief District Judge Jarvey found Webster had obstructed the due administration of justice and had not accepted responsibility for his crimes.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the complete cooperation of the City of Bettendorf. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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Learn more about this release by either calling Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300, or by emailing her at Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov