Defense contractor gets 12 years in prison for bribing congressman to get Pentagon work

SAN DIEGO — A defense contractor was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison Tuesday for bribing former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham with cash, trips, the services of prostitutes and other gifts in exchange for nearly $90 million in Pentagon work.

Brent Wilkes was labeled "a predatory wolf (in) self-styled patriot's clothing" and a "poster boy for war profiteering" by prosecutor Phillip Halpern. U.S. District Judge Larry Burns said he was troubled that Wilkes continued to maintain his innocence.

"If you were to do the right thing about this, today is the day to own up," Burns told Wilkes at the sentencing hearing.

"You have no sense of contrition," the judge added. "You had this corrupt relationship with the congressman and you profited from it."

Wilkes, 53, was immediately taken into federal custody. He was convicted in November on 13 counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.

Prosecutors argued during a three-week trial that Wilkes lavished Cunningham with more than $700,000 in perks, including cash, submachine gun shooting lessons and the services of prostitutes. In return, they said, Cunningham helped Wilkes secure $87 million in Pentagon contracts, mainly for scanning paper documents.

Wilkes' attorney, Mark Geragos, asked for a sentence less than the eight years and four months Cunningham received. Prosecutors asked for 25 years, and federal probation officials had recommended 60 years.

Geragos said Tuesday that he filed a notice to appeal the verdict.

Wilkes acknowledged no wrongdoing in a brief statement in which he asked the judge to look beyond his dealings with Cunningham.

"I am a man who cares deeply for this community, for my family, for my country," Wilkes said.

Cunningham, an eight-term Republican congressman and Vietnam War flying ace, pleaded guilty in 2005 to accepting $2.4 million in bribes from Wilkes and others — including antiques, boats, a used Rolls-Royce and cash to pay the mortgage on his mansion.

Wilkes has insisted on his innocence since he was charged almost exactly one year ago. In eight hours on the witness stand, he testified that his transactions with Cunningham were legitimate and flatly denied bribing him or any other lawmakers.