Maryland Army Research Biologist Gets 51-Month Sentence for Bribery and Corruption
Jason Edmonds, a 45-year-old Maryland man, was sentenced today to 51 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in a bribery scheme at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland also ordered Edmonds to forfeit $111,794.83, the estimated value of the bribes he accepted.
Edmonds, a research biologist with the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Chemical Biological Center (CB Center) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, was involved in a conspiracy with John Conigliaro, the owner and CEO of EISCO, Inc. Between 2012 and 2019, Edmonds accepted cash and various benefits from Conigliaro in exchange for awarding lucrative contracts to EISCO.
In 2013, Edmonds directed a $300,000 project to EISCO, and later, Conigliaro provided Edmonds with $40,000 in cash to purchase two rental properties, which Conigliaro then financed for extensive renovations. The two formalized the arrangement through a “Promissory Note,” which Edmonds later amended to include additional payments for future contracts directed to EISCO.
From 2016 to 2017, Edmonds continued to steer contracts to Conigliaro’s company in exchange for benefits, including home renovations like a kitchen remodel and new countertops.
In June 2020, federal agents attempted to interview both Edmonds and Conigliaro, but Edmonds suggested they mislead authorities by claiming he had repaid Conigliaro using gold and baseball cards.
Erek L. Barron, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, condemned Edmonds’ actions, stating that his conduct undermined the integrity of government operations. “Bribery spawns distrust of government and the work we do on behalf of taxpayers,” Barron said, emphasizing that the sentence serves as a warning to public officials who misuse their positions for personal gain.
