Ethics Corner

This series on ethics presents cautionary examples drawn from the DoD Standards of Conduct Office Encyclopedia of Ethical Failures.

If you have questions about ethics or are unsure about a certain course of conduct, contact the NASCC Staff Judge Advocate’s office by calling

(361) 961-3535.

Today’s story is about a bribe that didn’t pay off:

A former IRS official was sentenced in US District Court for accepting bribes in return for directing IRS computing contracts to certain companies and for failing to report the bribes on his income tax returns.

The official pled guilty to one count of bribery and to one count of filing a false tax return.

He received a 37-month prison term and three years’ probation as a result.

Bribery occurs when a public official seeks or accepts anything of value in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act.