Defense Contractor Charged

The Justice Department this week filed criminal charges against a defense contractor who has received millions of dollars worth of earmarks from Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), bringing together two parallel cases that are swirling around a host of firms with ties to the Congressman.

Late Monday, Mary Beth Buchanan, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, filed a criminal information against Richard Ianieri, the former head of Coherent Systems International, a defense contractor with several Pennsylvania facilities that Murtha has provided with millions of dollars in earmarks. Ianieri sold the Maryland-based firm in 2007.

Read more: (Paul Singer, “Murtha-Linked Firm Charged,” Roll Call, 7/08/09)