Johnny Guillory Sr., 72, of Opelousas,was charged in a two-count indictment by a federal grand jury that involves $15 million in federal federal contracts.
According to the indictment, Guillory conspired with Cajan Welding & Rentals, Ltd., and other unnamed co-conspirators to defraud the United States by corrupting and impairing the government procurement process, and by obtaining non-public pricing and cost information in order to obtain subcontract awards and payments from the U.S. Department of Energy in connection with its operation of the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve. From 2002 until 2016, Cajan was awarded over 50 subcontracts and received payments in excess of $15,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy, during which time Guillory received financial benefits from Cajan, a Department of Justice news release stated.
The Associated Press reported Guillory was employed by a company hired to manage and operate the reserve, which stores oil in Louisiana and Texas.
“His responsibilities included creating price and cost estimates for equipment and services that were supposed to remain non-public, according to the prosecution,” the AP reported.
The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser and Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers, for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice.
If convicted, Guillory faces a maximum term of five years imprisonment, fine of $250,000, a three year term of supervised release, and a special assessment of $200.
The AP reported an attorney for Guillory stated he would plead not guilty.