An official of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has admitted to being a part of a long-standing bribery scheme.
Roderick Watson, a 57-year-old contract specialist with the USAID has pleaded guilty to his role in a decade-long bribery scheme involving over $550 million in contracts.
The announcement, detailed in a press release from the Department of Justice dated June 12, 2025, marks a significant blow to the agency’s reputation and raises questions about the integrity of U.S. government procurement processes.
Watson, based in Woodstock, Maryland, admitted to accepting lavish bribes including cash, laptops, thousands of dollars in tickets to an NBA suite, downpayments on two residential mortgages, cell phones, a country club wedding, and jobs for relatives in exchange for manipulating the award of at least 14 prime contracts.
Investigations by the FBI, USAID’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit uncovered that Watson’s actions involved at least 14 contracts, with two companies admitting criminal liability.
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The scandal has prompted widespread concern, with the Department of Justice emphasizing its commitment to rooting out corruption among those entrusted with public funds.
Watson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, though sentencing details remain pending.
The USAID program has faced scrutiny since the Trump administration took charge. Although they want to abolish the program, it has not been fully canceled or dissolved, but significant changes and cancellations of its programs have been reported recently. This comes as the president seeks to use the country’s resources to develop the country.
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