A former civilian US Army official has pleaded guilty in Honolulu to conspiracy, bribery and major fraud arising from contracts for a military technology laboratory in the Pacific.
Carlos Duque admitted that, between January 2021 and October 2022, he conspired with defense contractors Brian Kent and Leonard Pick to corrupt the subcontracting process. The plea agreement says the group planned bribe payments of about $1.25 million over five years. Duque received approximately $55,000, while the Army paid more than $3 million to the contractors’ company.
According to the filed information and plea, Duque directed prime contractors toward the company and helped inflate contracting costs to accommodate the payments. He agreed to forfeit $55,166.70. A judge will determine sentence after considering the federal guidelines, statutory factors and any restitution.
The plea resolves Duque’s criminal liability but not the prosecution of Kent and Pick. They were indicted in May 2026 and are scheduled for trial on 17 May 2027. Those charges remain allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted.
The Justice Department’s 28 October 2026 announcement links the plea to United States v Brian Kent et al, No. 26-CR-00047-DKW. The official release sets out the admitted conduct and maximum statutory penalties.
