Former Department Of Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud, Assault Of Federal Officer

DAYTON – Metin Atilan, 55, formerly of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, assault of a federal officer and failure to appear on pretrial release. Atilan, a former Department of Defense contractor, was extradited from Iraq to the United States in July. He was the first person extradited from Iraq to the United States pursuant to the U.S.-Iraq extradition treaty of 1936.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Special Agent in Charge Angela L. Byers of the FBI’s Cincinnati Office and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Arsenault of the Defense Criminal Investigation Service (DCIS) announced the plea entered into yesterday before U.S. District Judge Thomas Rose.

Atilan, a dual U.S. and Turkish citizen, was charged by indictment on June 10, 2008.  According to court documents, Atilan is President and Chief Executive Officer of PMA Services, Ltd. of Las Vegas and Kayteks Ltd. of Adna, Turkey.  In 2006 through 2008, Atilan offered bribes and kickbacks in order to secure contracts for businesses he owned in connection with services and construction associated with U.S. military operations in Iraq.  Some of the Defense Department contracting officials who Atilan is accused of trying to bribe were stationed in Dayton at the time.   

Atilan was first arrested in Las Vegas on May 23, 2008. Atilan was placed on electronic monitoring there pending his formal hearing before a federal judge in Dayton, Ohio.  On June 15, 2008, Atilan violated the terms of his pretrial release by cutting off his electronic bracelet and fleeing the country.  Atilan also forcibly resisted and assaulted a federal officer who was escorting him from Iraq to the United States on July 24, 2014.The government sought his extradition, and Atilan arrived in Dayton, Ohio on July 27, 2014.

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is a crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The court may impose a sentence of up to 8 years in prison for assault of a federal officer and up to 10 years for failure to appear on pretrial release.

Atilan is scheduled for sentencing on July 1, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by the FBI and DCIS as well as Assistant United States Attorney Dwight Keller, who is representing the United States in this case.