A federal grand jury has handed down an indictment against Osama Esam
Salim Ayesh, who worked in the U.S. embassy in Iraq as shipping and customs
supervisor. The indictment, which charged Ayesh with theft and conflict of
interest, said the 36-year-old Jordanian relayed more than $237,000 to a
bank account in Amman.
"According to the indictment, Ayesh held the position of shipping and
customs supervisor at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Ayesh was responsible for
preparing the necessary documents and logistical support for customs
clearance and delivery of shipments coming into Iraq for the embassy and
embassy officials and personnel," the Justice Department said. "While Ayesh
worked at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, his primary residence was in Amman,
Jordan."
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Ayesh, arrested on Aug. 16, was said to have diverted hundreds of
thousands of dollars in U.S. government funds meant to pay for services
provided to the embassy. From November 2008 through June 2010, the
indictment said, Ayesh created so-called blanket purchase agreements in
which he and his wife held a financial interest.
"The indictment alleges that Ayesh also knew that he and his wife had a
financial interest in the instigation of U.S. electronic funds transfers to
pay for services rendered under those BPAs," Justice said.
The indictment did not detail the scam allegedly employed by Ayesh.
Ayesh was said to face up to 15 years in prison. His wife was not reported
to have been arrested.
The arrest took place amid a series of investigations by Congress of
fraud and waste of U.S. programs in Afghanistan and Iraq. The congressional
watchdog, General Accountability Office, has asserted that the federal
government failed to implement sufficient oversight of contracts.
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