Brent Wilkes Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Bribing Duke Cunningham

Brent Wilkes, owner and founder of defense contractor ADCS Inc., was sentenced on Tuesday to 12 years in prison by US District Judge Larry A. Burns in San Diego. Wilkes was convicted by jury trial in November, 2007 on 13 counts including conspiracy, bribery, money laundering and wire fraud in connection with the Duke Cunningham bribery scandal. The sentence was far less than the 25 years sought by prosecutors and the 60 year sentence recommended by the federal probation office, but Judge Burns specifically rejected the government’s assertion that Wilkes was the mastermind of the bribery scheme. Wilkes maintained his innocence and refused to admit any wrongdoing at the hearing; his attorneys had sought a sentence no longer than the 8 year, 4 month sentence that Cunningham is currently serving. In a related case, Judge Burns approved an agreement to drop conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering charges against Wilkes in the corruption case of former CIA official Dusty Foggo, and to move the prosecution of Foggo on the same counts to US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. San Diego Union-Tribune here, AP here.