Investigators Probe Special Ops Contracting FBI and Defense Department investigators are examining contracting practices at the U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa after one contractor pleaded guilty to bribery and anonymous informants accused SOCOM’s commanding general of improperly influencing acquisition decisions. The investigation widened after William E. Burke of Odessa, FL, pleaded guilty Oct. 14 to accepting bribes in return for favorable treatment of unnamed companies. Burke advised SOCOM on acquisitions of weapons and communications systems. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Tampa identified him as an employee of Sentel Corp., an Alexandria, VA, defense contractor. Sentel President James Garrett said in a statement that Burke was operating his own business and his activities did not involve the company. He said Burke left Sentel in June. The St. Petersburg Times reported that a former SOCOM official, retired Army Col. Tom Spellissy, is a target of the bribery investigation. Spellissy, who is now a consultant, denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged. Federal prosecutors said Burke received $4,500 from an unidentified co-conspirator “in return for preferential treatment in the contracting process to contractors who were represented by this other individual.” Burke has agreed to cooperate with investigators. He faces up to 15 years in prison. A spokesman for SOCOM at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa said the command is reviewing all contracts that Burke handled to determine whether he might have recommended inferior equipment. SOCOM is headquarters for Green Berets, Navy Seals and other specialized troops. The SOCOM spokesman said the Defense Department’s inspector general is investigating anonymous accusations of corruption against SOCOM’s commander, Army Gen. Bryan Brown. The Tampa Tribune reported a letter, purporting to be from present and former SOCOM employees, accused Brown of “conflicts of interest, preferential treatment and undue command influence” in acquisitions. The SOCOM spokesman said the charges are unsubstantiated. The IG recently completed a two-year investigation of SOCOM’s business practices. At issue was whether Defense Department funds were illegally parked in the command’s accounts, the St. Petersburg Times reported. No charges were filed as a result of that investigation.