Former State Department Employee Sentenced to Prison in $2 Million Government Contract Conspiracy

Former State Department employee Kenneth Apple has been sentenced to 50 months in prison for his role in steering $2 million in federal contracts  to a company co-owned by his son. According to court documents, Apple helped steer the sole-sourcing of $2 million in micro-dairy contracts to a company in which his son, Jonathan Apple, owned a 50 percent interest.  However, Jonathan Apple and his partner had no technical experience in the industry.  Kenneth Apple conspired to use his official position to pass on non-public information to his son in order to fraudulently award and administer government contracts.  The conspirators further provided false information to, and concealed material details from the U.S.