Dec. 2, 2009, 8:03PM
© 2009 The Associated Press
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6750040.html

SAN ANTONIO — A former Army contract officer was sentenced Wednesday to 17 1/2 years in federal prison for taking more than $9 million in bribes for supply contracts in Kuwait.

Former Maj. John Cockerham, 43, pleaded guilty in February 2008 to conspiracy, bribery and money laundering for awarding contracts for services, like bottled water for troops in Iraq, in 2004 and 2005. He admitted accepting the bribes from contractors in Kuwait, directing the companies to pay relatives in an effort to conceal the scheme, prosecutors said.

His wife, Melissa Cockerham, along with his sister, Carolyn Blake, and niece, Nyree Pettaway, were sentenced to shorter prison terms for their part in allegedly accepting millions of dollars in bribes and trying to hide the money from authorities.

Melissa Cockerham and Blake had previously pleaded guilty to money laundering. Pettaway pleaded guilty to conspiracy in July.

All four were sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in San Antonio, where Cockerham was last assigned to Fort Sam Houston.

Prosecutors said the bribes were taken as part of an elaborate scheme, with money stored in safe deposit boxes in Kuwait and efforts made to launder it with cover stories.

The government has recovered more than $3 million. Cockerham and his relatives were ordered to pay $19.1 million in restitution as part of their sentences.

"It is very rewarding to see these people sentenced after such a complex and exhausting investigation by our special agents and our law enforcement partners," said Brig. Gen. Rodney Johnson, commander of the Army's Criminal Investigation Division. "Cockerham and his co-conspirators broke the sacred trust and confidence we, the U.S. Army, place in our officers."