WASHINGTON (CNN) - Federal agents arrested a District of Columbia government official and a Washington-area businessman on conspiracy charges Thursday and searched the offices of the district's chief technology officer as part of a corruption probe.
Yusuf Acar, a contracting officer for Washington's city government, and Sushil Bansal, a former city employee, are accused of swindling the city out of several million dollars by inflating purchase orders and billing the city for work by non-existent employees of Bansal's companies. They made initial appearances in federal court on Thursday.
Both are charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and money laundering, while Acar faces separate charges of wire fraud and conflict of interest, according to court papers.
As part of the probe, agents raided the office of Washington's chief technology officer, the agency responsible for overseeing the city's telecommunications infrastructure. The raid came a week after the Obama administration named the office's former director, Vivek Kundra, as the White House chief information officer, but a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Kundra is not involved in the case.
The White House called the probe "a serious matter," but referred further questions to the Justice Department.
Updated: 6:22 p.m.
– CNN's Carol Cratty and Terry Frieden contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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Here's what we DO know.... an FBI raid ISN'T good news if it's your office or your administration!
How SWEET would if the FBI were acting on a tip from Blago... a little something about Obama & Rahm violating US laws.
So far, all I've seen is panicking liberals protecting their turf. Correct me if I am wrrong, but the FBI doesn't generally invade someone's offices unless they have a court issued warrrant, do they?
Maybe it is simply another letter with white powder or some such thing and it is standard procedure to protect the people from harm.
Get a grip people and wait and see what comes next.
another corrupt demorat??? who would have thought???
For God's sake, actually get the story before you publish something.
Go ahead Dems.. Minimize it... "they are treating Obama so poorly" wah wah wah... He could wiretap everyone of your phones, admit it himself and you woulden't believe it. When is your blind loyalty to the man going to wear off?
Jackie, you libs have been 'screaming' for the last 8 years, don't even start with the 3...2...1... stuff...
Another name is added to the obama score board . He He He. I am impressed with all the change, He he he........
You would have thought ANYONE in the world could have looked great replacing Bush. I mean, it's the PERFECT act to follow b/c no matter what you do, it's bound to be better....somehow, Obama is screwing this up. It's unbelievable!!!
*** I doubt CNN will post this...as they don't like REAL journalism ***
Drudge has posted – 2 officials in the DC's Office of the Chief Technology Officer have been arrested in a federal bribery sting.
Sushil Bansal and Yusuf Acar were arrested.
Seems both these guys worked with Obama appointment, Vivek Kundra... who has been working with Obama since he won the election.
UH OH!!! Add two more to Obama's list of terrorist and/or felons:
Ayers
Rezko
Blago
Norman Hsu
...
Dan, TX March 12th, 2009 11:47 am ET
But why? Is this a background check or a criminal investigation. This is not a story, it is a twitter tweet.
****************************
Or worse, are they searching for something that might be dangerous to the occupants? Or bugs? Or Judge Crater?
CNN – Please give us some facts.
Dan, TX March 12th, 2009 11:47 am ET
But why? Is this a background check or a criminal investigation. This is not a story, it is a twitter tweet.
****************************
Or worse, are they searching for something that might be dangerous to the occupants? Or bugs? Or Judge Crater?
CNN – Please give us some facts.
I will be waiting patiently for a completed, edited, explaination of this
incident
Hey ijoe . cnn doesn't have to try to bring down obama's admin. He's doing just fine by himself. He he e eeehe.
this is news? cnn crew you can be weird sometimes
Lately, I getting up-set and frustrated how CNN turned on Obama. He is in power 7 weeks, and the economy should be fixed and all of a sudden his rating is down. Give the President time to breath. CNN is scaring the public, putting everyone in a panic about the economy, causing people to stop spending and, as a result the economy is becoming slower and slower. Let me remind you that there is still 92% of the population who hold a job.
CNN is becoming as bad as Fox News.
This is what happens when you over extend the umbrella of your organization; bad apples get caught in the mix.
This just in from the Obama worshippers : "No, not fair, shut up CNN, quit picking on Obama he is wonderful, oh GOP's fault, Bush's fault, Iraq War, etc., etc."
Face it folks - the Prez and his buddies are crooked. He has spent a billion dollars a minute since taking office. He doesn't know what he is doing and this country is quickly becoming the capitol of immorality.
Surprise, surprise, surprise.
Find something worthwhile to talk about, like, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND THE ECONOMY!!!! This other foolishness is ridiculous!!!!
You guys are surprised that they got searched?? I mean, come on, is like the good old times, it happens to everybody! ...Right? Right guys? LOL!!
look around, folks its been reported that Kundra's old offices in the DC government were raided and the FBI said that Kundra is NOT a target of the investigation. wait a bit before freaking out (left and right). stop spinning. the truth is in the facts. which are on the way.
This goes to show that you get what you pay for.
Yes this is NEWS! Two people were arrested!
Unreal and how much did the Bush Administration steal form the tax payers and literrally lied. Move on to somthinh of IMPORTANCE!!!!!!
FoxNews has details...it is an investigation into corruption. CNN is waiting until they can spin this positively before they actually write a story.
This just goes to show you get what you pay for.