Nassau Man Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes for Merchant Marine Academy Contracts

An Atlantic Beach man, a former planner and estimator for the Department of Public Works of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, pleaded guilty to receiving bribes as part of a scheme to give contracts to specific companies.

John McCormick, 60, pleaded guilty to charges of receiving a bribe as a public official. He will forfeit the $60,000 he received as part of the scheme, and faces a maximum of 15 years in prison at his sentencing, which is scheduled for May 19, as well as further possible restitution.

“The receipt of bribes on government contracts threatens the quality of the work being performed and the integrity of the contracting process" said United States Attorney Robert Capers, whose office prosecuted the case. "Such brazen conduct will never be tolerated and the defendant will now be held accountable for his crimes."

According to previous court filings, between 2000 and 2014, while McCormick was employed in the Department of Public Works for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, he solicited and submitted fake bids on contracts he supervised in order to steer the awarding of maintenance and repair contracts to favored contractors who paid him bribes.

In October 2014, federal agents surveilled and recorded McCormick accepting a bribe from a contractor on the grounds of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. McCormick was arrested shortly thereafter. This plea is the result of a continuing investigation in which the government has previously filed charges against other Academy employees and a number of contractors.

“Government employees are hired to serve the best interests of the public, not to illegally enrich themselves," said Kathy Enstrom, the acting special agent in charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation team. "Today’s plea by Mr. McCormick underscores our commitment to work in a collaborative effort to promote honest and ethical government at all levels and to prosecute those who violate the public trust."

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