By John Lee.
A U.S. Marine could face a maximum of 20 years in custody for accepting $150,000 in bribes from contractors while stationed in Iraq.
Associated Press reports that 36-year-old Staff Sgt. Gilbert Mendez, who worked as a contracting officer at Camp Fallujah in 2006 and 2007, pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiring to defraud the United States.
Prosecutors say he accepting at least $150,000 in bribes from three foreign-owned companies that subsequently received contracts worth millions of dollars. The statement did not name the companies or say whether they would also face charges.
He is due to be sentenced on 1st March.