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Navy Reserve Officer From Pensacola Sentenced For Afghan VISA Bribery Scheme
October 30, 2024
A U.S. Navy Reserve Commander from Pensacola was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in a years-long bribery scheme involving Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to court documents and evidence submitted at trial, Jeromy Pittmann, 53, accepted bribe payments from Afghan nationals in exchange for drafting, submitting, and verifying fraudulent letters of recommendation for Afghan nationals who applied for SIVs with the U.S. Department of State. Since 2009, Congress has authorized the State Department to offer a limited number of SIVs to enter the United States for Afghan nationals who were employed as translators for U.S. military personnel. Pittmann signed over 20 letters in which he fraudulently represented that he personally knew and had supervised the Afghan national visa applicants while they worked as translators in support of the U.S. military and NATO; that the applicants’ lives were in jeopardy because the Taliban considered them to be traitors; and that, based on his personal knowledge of the applicants, he believed they did not pose any threat to the national security of the United States. In truth, Pittmann did not know the applicants and had no basis for recommending them for SIVs. In exchange for the fraudulent letters, Pittmann received several thousands of dollars in bribes. To avoid detection, Pittmann received the bribe money through an intermediary and created false invoices purporting to show that Pittmann was receiving the money for legitimate work unrelated to his military service.
On July 12, Pittmann was convicted by a jury in the District of New Hampshire after a four-day trial of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, making a materially false writing, and conspiring to commit money laundering.
By protecting Afghan nationals who risk their personal safety to help the U.S. government, the SIV program is essential for the security of U.S. military and diplomatic personnel in Afghanistan,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Jeromy Pittmann, however, used his position of authority over the program to benefit foreign nationals who paid him bribes, falsely asserting that they had served the United States. Today’s sentence demonstrates that the Justice Department has zero tolerance for those who place their self-interest ahead of our national security.”
“This case shows how someone betrayed his sacred oath of office to commit crimes for personal gain, with no regard for how his actions could threaten U.S. homeland security and harm Afghans, who risked their lives to help the United States,” said Inspector General John F. Sopko of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). “It also shows how a U.S. Government investigation — from initial tip to prosecution to conviction — can hold individuals accountable for their crimes. I’m proud of SIGAR special agents and our investigative partners who brought Pittmann to justice, and I hope their hard work will deter others from pursuing similar acts.”
“Pittmann’s participation in this bribery scheme not only jeopardized the integrity of the SIV program, which protects our allies, but also introduced significant security risks to our nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners will continue to hold accountable those who exploit government processes for personal gain, ensuring that the safety of the public and our warfighters is preserved.”
Pictured: Navy Reserve officer Cmdr. Jeromy Pittmann, then a lieutenant commander in Afghanistan in 2014. (Photo: Patrick Bordon/Navy)
Comments
8 Responses to “Navy Reserve Officer From Pensacola Sentenced For Afghan VISA Bribery Scheme”
30 months? 2.5 years and likely time for good behavior will shorten that. Considering he could have aided and abetted terrorist to enter the country, it should be more 30 months per letter and not allowed to run concurrently for a total sentence of 60+ years.
The US law enforcement and immigration must verify those individuals who are moved to by paying for recommendation letter there are countless people already moved they hunt them down and deport them back to Afghanistan. the bribing also on going at DMV people who are unable to pass the learner permit test paying money to pass the test this needs to be stopped as well .
first; stripped of rank; second; charged with treason; third; kick out of navy with NO BENEFITS; dishonorable discharge; many years in prison.
being a navy brat; my dads fav saying; DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR
And yet, so Many of our True Civilian Allies in Afghanistan were Left Behind by the current administration in the worse military withdrawal in US history.
The Open Border Policies of the past 3+ years have allowed many thousands of unvetted foreigners into the USA, from many nations, some of whom are known to be terrorist-related.
30 months seems mighty light for his sentence yet we as a nation will be dealing with the unvetted inflow of illegal migrants for generations to come.
Hopefully he’ll loose his benefits and be stripped of his rank. Truly a black eye for the Navy.
30 months is so very little time for knowingly allowing persons from an area that routinely shouts “Death to America” 8n the streets of their country. Shameful betrayal of his oath as an American fighting man, as well as a citizen of this country.
What a dishonorable man and Naval Officer! I only hope that he looses all his benefits and is stripped of his rank as well!
I think the sentence was way wrong. This one should have been executed then and there why ? Because he knew exactly what he was doing and knew that getting caught was a very serious crime that’s why !!!