Late morning we started hearing that Cole Engineering Services offices in Orlando, FL had cop cars blocking the entrances and Defense Criminal Investigation Services was conducting a raid, interviewing people and seizing computers. This is the first time in my long career with DoD ever having a nearby company undergo something like this. Quantadyne was caught years back and they show up on our annual ethics training but to have this happen in a huge military industry area is BIG happenings! I also remember General Dynamics getting caught in timecard fraud back in the 80s, but I digress…
Next we heard that the raid was for a Procurement Integrity Act investigation and that the Army entity PEO STRI was also being raided as well as people’s homes.
https://www.peostri.army.mil/peo-stri-overview
3 of us drove by and confirmed with our own eyes that Cole was indeed being raided. Portable tent canopy by the front door. I also have a picture showing that DCIS agents carry guns. Why?
And for the HOLY SHIT moment… This is not confirmed yet by anyone I know personally yet, but we have heard that Karen Saunders, SES, head of PEO STRI, was arrested in her weekly meeting. She was about to retire, I’m pretty sure. This is unheard of. They were making an example of her. They arrested her in front of her colleagues, not at home. Wow, just wow.
Reddit thread…
https://www.reddit.com/r/orlando/comments/1do8uhi/raid_at_cole_engineering_services/
This is definitely a revolving door violation with the parties involved. They are finally cracking down on them?
ByLight bought Cole years back. They are a swampy DC area company…
Interesting.
It sure dovetails in nicely with Menendez/Norcross in NJ