Navy Base Worker Pleads Guilty to Taking Bribe

A civilian employee at the U.S. Navy base in Diego Garcia has pleaded guilty to taking a bribe from two business executives preparing to bid on a Navy contract.

Angelo Constantino, 38, pleaded guilty this week in Los Angeles to one count of conspiracy for taking $800 from executives of C-E Operations and Maintenance Services Inc., a subsidiary of Combustion Engineering. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Constantino, a Philippine national, worked in the accounting office at the joint U.S.-British naval base in the Indian Ocean. C-E was bidding on a $150-million, five-year support services contract at the base when Constantino took the bribe, authorities said. In return, prosecutors said, Constantino gave the men documents to help them prepare their contract bid.

C-E executives Larry Hulberg, 41, of Newhall and Gordon Brymer, 58, of San Antonio are charged with conspiracy, bribery and theft of government property. Both have pleaded innocent.