U.S. Attorneys indicted a former contractor for the Georgia Department of Defense Thursday for allegedly awarding contracts worth $75,000 to friends in exchange for illegal kickbacks, which they used for such things as liposuction and travel.
Raytosha Elliott is charged with steering contracts to shell companies created by her friends, including co-defendant Lakeysha Ellis, and pocketing 50 percent of their worth.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the defendants "split the money awarded under these contracts and spent it on personal items, including travel, meals, merchandise, and even liposuction treatment for Ellis."
The U.S. Attorneys office says the work for the awarded contracts was never performed
"Ms. Elliott took advantage of the trust her job afforded her to award no-bid contracts by giving them to her friends," U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said in a statement. "The defendants pocketed nearly $75,000 from their scheme for work that was never completed, and denied services meant to maintain facilities supporting those who serve this country."