A USAID Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigation, which revealed a decade-long bribery scheme involving over $500 million in contracts, has culminated in United States government-wide debarments for a former USAID contracting officer and three corporate executives. As a result, the four individuals are currently banned from participating in government procurement and non-procurement programs.
USAID OIG initiated the investigation in response to an allegation that a former USAID contracting official had potentially violated the Procurement Integrity Act by knowingly disclosing a contractor bid, proposal information, or source selection information to a USAID-funded small business contractor.
In May 2025, Roderick Watson, the former contracting officer, pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official. Walter Barnes, owner and president of PM Consulting Group LLC doing business as Vistant, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official along with securities fraud. Darryl Britt, owner and president of Apprio, Inc., and Paul Young, the president of a subcontractor to Vistant and Apprio, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official. (See the Department of Justice press release for more details.) OIG referred these parties to the USAID Suspension and Debarment Official.
On August 26, 2025, USAID issued notices of debarment to Watson for 10 years and to Barnes, Britt, and Young for 6 years for causes so serious or compelling in nature that it affects their present responsibility.
USAID OIG’s investigations into misuse of American taxpayer dollars funding overseas programs are active and ongoing. For more on our investigative results, please visit https://oig.usaid.gov/our-work/investigations.
OIG reminds personnel and implementers to report allegations of misconduct to the OIG Hotline, consistent with their award requirements or other legal obligations.