A New York man today admitted accepting bribes in exchange for his assistance in securing a contract between a metallurgical technology company (the “technology company”) and his employer, a medical device company in New Jersey (the “medical device company”), U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Authorities said Daniel Lawrynowicz, 48, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of violating the Federal Travel Act.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In 2012, Lawrynowicz was an employee of the medical device company in New Jersey. Eugene Ostrovsky and two other individuals were principals of the technology company. Ostrovsky, along with the other individuals, sought a contract worth $5.5 million with the medical device company. Lawrynowicz could make recommendations to others at the medical device company related to the goods that the technology company sought to supply under the contract.
According to officials, Ostrovsky and the other individuals made illicit bribe payments to Lawrynowicz in exchange for his assistance in helping the technology company secure the contract with the medical device company. These payments included a cash payment of approximately $75,000 to Lawrynowicz after the contract between the two companies was signed.
The count of violating the Federal Travel Act carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Lawrynowicz must also forfeit $75,000 as part of today’s guilty plea. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2018.
On Feb. 27, 2017, Ostrovsky pleaded guilty to an information charging him with violating the Federal Travel Act for his role in the bribery scheme.
Officials said he was sentenced March 9, 2018, to six months in prison, six months of home confinement and two years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley W. Cohen in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.