DOD billed $998,798.38 to ship two flat washers that cost $0.19 each

August 16, 2007
DOD billed $998,798.38 to ship two flat washers that cost $0.19 each

Investigators say the fictitious shipping costs ranged into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, despite the fact that the value of the items shipped rarely exceeded $100. In the final transaction before the scheme was discovered, in September 2006, C&D billed the Department of Defense $998,798.38 to ship two flat washers that cost $0.19 each.

Over the course of the conspiracy, court officials say the defendants obtained approximately $20,576,925.00 in fraudulent shipping costs.

The money was used to purchase beach houses, high-end automobiles, boats, jewelry, vacations, and other items.

Officials say Darlene Wooten committed suicide at her Lexington County lake house last October, after being contacted by federal investigators about the fraud.