US v. James Briar - IT Contract Fraud and Bid-Rigging

DOJ Antitrust Case Filings

Filed July 30th, 2025

Detected March 14th, 2026

Summary

The DOJ Antitrust Division announced charges against IT executive Victor Marquez for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bid-rigging on U.S. government IT contracts. Marquez and co-conspirators allegedly defrauded the government, resulting in over $3.8 million in payments to Marquez and his company. This action is part of an ongoing investigation into IT contract fraud.

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What changed

The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division has charged Maryland IT executive Victor Marquez with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and major fraud. The charges stem from a bid-rigging and kickback scheme that allegedly defrauded the U.S. government between 2018 and 2022, involving sensitive procurement information and resulting in over $3.8 million in payments to Marquez and one of his companies. This superseding indictment is the latest development in the DOJ's investigation, with two other individuals having already pleaded guilty to related charges.

This enforcement action highlights the risks associated with participating in bid-rigging and kickback schemes involving government contracts. Companies and individuals involved in government procurement, particularly in the IT sector, should review their compliance programs to ensure adherence to anti-fraud and anti-kickback regulations. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned for other entities, the ongoing nature of this investigation suggests a heightened risk of scrutiny for those involved in similar activities. Non-compliance can lead to severe criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

What to do next

Review internal controls for government contracting processes.
Ensure compliance with anti-kickback and anti-fraud statutes.
Consult legal counsel regarding potential exposure in ongoing investigations.

Penalties

Victor Marquez faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and major fraud. Two co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks and violating the Anti-Kickback Act. Marquez and one of his companies received over $3.8 million from the U.S. government as a result of the scheme.

Source document (simplified)

Case

U.S. v. James Briar

Share Overview In December 2025, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Maryland IT executive Victor Marquez with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and major fraud. As alleged in the superseding indictment, from 2018 through 2022, Marquez and his co-conspirators defrauded the federal government through a bid-rigging and kickback scheme affecting large U.S. government IT contracts. Marquez and his co-conspirators used Marquez’s knowledge of sensitive procurement information to rig bids, including by submitting bids and certifications for IT Products contracts that they knew were materially false. Marquez and others concealed Marquez’s role in the procurement process in furtherance of the scheme. Marquez obtained kickbacks—what his co-conspirators called the “Vic tax”— for steering contracts to his co-conspirators. As a result of the scheme, Marquez and one of his companies received over $3.8 million from the U.S. government. The superseding indictment represents the most recent charges in the Justice Department’s investigation into IT manufacturers, distributors, and resellers. Two other individuals pleaded guilty last year in related cases. In August 2025, James Briar, an IT account representative, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks. In October 2025, Robert Fay, an IT sales executive, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks and to violating the Anti-Kickback Act.

Plea Agreement (August 11, 2025)

Information (July 30, 2025)

Case Open Date

July 30, 2025

Case Name United States v. James Briar Case Type Criminal Case Violation(s)
- Knowingly, willfully accepting or soliciting kickbacks on public contracts
- Conspiracy to Defraud United States
Market(s)
- Computer systems design services
Industry Code(s)
- Computer Systems Design Services
Component Antitrust Division Case Documents Plea Agreement [PDF, ] Information [PDF, ] Updated March 11, 2026