According to the Associated Press, it took the federal government 10 years to grok that twin sisters Charlene and Darlene were bilking the Defense Dept. out of $20 million for hardware that troops could have purchased in local shops in Baghdad and Kabul. Apparently, no one at the Pentagon noticed an automated payment system was approving $998,798 for two 19-cent lock washers, $492,097 for an $11 threaded plug and $499,569 to send 10 cotter pins worth $1.99 each. (This article notes, however, that most of the cost was actually shipping and handling.)
SC contractor pleads guilty to defrauding Defense Department
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