The Nation : Ex-Guard Leader Indicted

The retired commander of the New York state National Guard and five others, including four ex-officials of a defense contractor, were indicted in an alleged bribery scheme involving federal, state and local officials. Wedtech Corp., of the Bronx, handled $494 million in defense contracts, and allegedly paid “a substantial amount of bribes” to win or maintain at least some of them, authorities said. The highest official indicted was Vito Castellano, 61, the retired commanding officer of the state National Guard and the governor’s military chief of staff, who lobbied Congress on behalf of the New York military establishment.