Today (May 20, 2026), the Justice Department announced criminal charges against Leonard Pick, 62, of Palm Beach Shores, Florida, and Brian Kent, 59, of Tampa, Florida, for orchestrating a bribery and major fraud conspiracy that corrupted the competitive procurement process for a Department of War technology innovation lab in the Pacific. The defendants’ alleged conduct specifically affected the construction and operation of the U.S. Army Pacific Command’s Hawaii-Pacific Innovation Campus, which was intended to be a hub for testing new technologies for the Department of War.

The indictment, filed in the District of Hawaii on May 14 and unsealed today, alleges that, from January 2021 to October 2022, Pick and Kent conspired to bribe a U.S. Army employee with approximately $1.25 million over five years and fraudulently inflated government contracting costs to include the U.S. Army employee’s bribe payments. The indictment further alleges that, from approximately September 2020, up to and including October 2022, defendant Kent further defrauded the government by inflating government contract costs to include approximately $680,000 in payments intended for and sent to Kent’s personal consulting business.

“When defense contractors obtain government-funded work through bribery and fraud, they rob our military and the American people of the benefits of a fair, competitive procurement process,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel W. Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its partners in the Procurement Collusion Strike Force will vigorously prosecute those that seek to profit at the expense of American taxpayers.”

“Government contracts must be awarded based on fair competition, not secret bribes hidden in inflated costs,” said Acting Director of Criminal Enforcement Paul V. Courtney of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Those who corrupt the procurement process and defraud the American taxpayer should know this: we will find you, prosecute you, and hold you accountable.”

“Corruption in our military procurement processes harms honest companies seeking to compete fairly, steals from our taxpayers, and erodes faith in our government institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “We remain committed to holding accountable in federal court any defense contractors who attempt to undermine fair competition through bribery and corrupt practices.”

“The criminal conduct uncovered in this investigation represents a profound betrayal of the public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge David Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office. “The defendants used bribery and fraud to obtain significant defense contracts, prioritizing personal profit over national security. Let this serve as a clear warning — the FBI and our federal partners will aggressively pursue and hold accountable anyone who attempts to corrupt government procurement processes for personal gain.”

“Those who scheme for ill-gotten profits through unscrupulous and shady dealings should take heed of these very serious charges,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Department of War, Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Transnational Operations Field Office. “Swindling the American taxpayers through corruption and fraud will never be tolerated by the dedicated professionals of DCIS and our partner agencies.  We are steadfast in our commitment to ensure the integrity of the U.S. military procurement system and hold those who threaten it accountable.”

“Those who attempt to corrupt government processes for personal gain undermine public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bjornstad of the U.S. General Services Administration Office of Inspector General Western Investigations Division. “GSA OIG special agents will continue working with our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate those who abuse positions of trust and responsibility.”

“Bribery and conspiracy within the defense supply chain are more than just financial crimes; they represent a direct threat to our mission readiness and the safety of our service members,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS will continue working tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle corrupt networks and safeguard the resources necessary to support our warfighters.”

Defendants Pick and Kent are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and major fraud against the United States, one count of bribery, one count of major fraud against the United States, and one count of wire fraud. Kent is also charged with a second count of major fraud against the United States. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit bribery and major fraud is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for bribery is 15 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or three times the monetary value of the bribe, whichever is greater. The maximum penalty for major fraud against the United States is 10 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fines. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

These indictments result from ongoing federal investigations into fraud and collusion in the defense contracting industry in Hawaii. The investigation is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigative Division, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. General Services Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Trial Attorneys Nolan Mayther, Andrew Schupanitz and Kylie McLaughlin, and Senior Litigation Counsel Mikal Condon, are prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.  

Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.

Via DOJ

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

LAS VEGAS, NV — Benelli has named Botach Inc. its 2025 Dealer of the Year. The award recognizes Botach for its sales volume, technical depth, and long service to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Botach has grown into one of the largest and most-trusted suppliers of duty firearms, optics, body armor, and mission-critical gear to agencies across the United States.

A Heavy Hitter in LE Contracting

Botach holds active vendor relationships with thousands of law enforcement agencies, military units, and federal contracting offices, and is a registered supplier across multiple government procurement platforms. Recognition from Benelli, one of the most respected shotgun manufacturers in the world, reflects how far that footprint now reaches.

Botach continues to scale its LE-focused operations across duty-grade shotguns, patrol rifles, optics, protective equipment and all other Tactical Gear. Botach’s dedicated agency sales team handles bulk procurement, agency demos, police trades, and customized loadouts for departments transitioning between platforms.

The Shotgun’s Return to Patrol

Botach’s win arrives at a turning point for the 12-gauge in American policing. After two decades in the patrol rifle’s shadow, the shotgun is back.

Two mission profiles are driving the resurgence. The first is load flexibility. A single shotgun can run buckshot, slugs, less-lethal munitions, breaching rounds, and specialty loads inside the same shift. No other system in the patrol fleet covers that range. For warrant service, building clearing, crowd management, animal control, and vehicle disabling, the platform remains a proven tool.

The second is airborne. Small unmanned aerial systems have moved counter-sUAS planning onto every chief’s desk. Contraband drops over prison yards, unauthorized overflights of stadiums and federal buildings, and reconnaissance flights over critical infrastructure are now routine. Electronic countermeasures are expensive and legally complicated. A semi-auto 12-gauge loaded with anti-drone shells is neither. The shotgun has re-emerged as the most accessible and effective short-range counter-drone tool an officer can carry.

“The shotgun is one of the most adaptable tools an agency can deploy,” Botach added. “From less-lethal response to anti-drone work, departments are realizing the 12-gauge isn’t outdated. It’s evolving. We are seeing record demand from agencies upgrading to modern semi-auto platforms like the Benelli M4.”

Why Benelli

The Benelli M4 Platform is in service with the United States Marine Corps and dozens of federal and municipal agencies, and is widely regarded as one of the most reliable combat shotguns in production. Botach has been a long-standing authorized Benelli dealer, supplying individual officers and full agency contracts with M4, M2, M3, Nova, and Super Nova platforms.

“Benelli Law Enforcement is proud to partner with Botach as we strive to bring the best duty use shotguns to Law Enforcement personnel nationwide,” said Jeff Sterner, National Sales Manager – LE/GOV, Benelli USA.

The Dealer of the Year recognition is awarded on sales volume to LE and government customers, quality of technical support and warranty handling, inventory consistency during periods of high demand, and sustained partnership across the LE community.

About Botach Inc.

Botach Inc. is a U.S.-based supplier of tactical equipment, firearms, optics, body armor, and mission-critical gear, with a specialized focus on law enforcement, military, and government contracting. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Botach serves Military, Federal Agencies, State and Municipal Police Departments, Sheriff’s Offices, Corrections Departments, and qualified professionals nationwide. The company is an authorized dealer for leading manufacturers across the law enforcement and tactical industry.

For agency sales, bulk procurement, and government contracting inquiries, visit botach.com.