Ex-contractor cleared of fraud, false claims charges

DANVILLE, Va. — A former military contractor and its owner have been cleared of charges that the company misrepresented the level of protection provided by armored vehicles in Iraq.

A federal court jury in Danville found Armet Armored Vehicles Inc. and William Whyte not guilty Thursday of fraud and false claims. The Danville Register & Bee reports the verdict came after about six hours of deliberation in the trial that started this week.

According to a 2012 grand jury indictment, Armet signed contracts to provide 32 armored gun trucks to the Department of Defense. The contracts said the vehicles would provide security to Iraqi VIPs who regularly traveled by motorcade through "a hostile and dangerous environment."

According to the indictment, seven armored gun trucks failed to meet required ballistic and blast protection standards.

In Other News

VA to resume new electronic health record rollout in mid-2026

The project was scheduled to take 10 years and cost $16 billion. Nearly eight years later, only six of VA’s 170-plus medical sites are using the software.

Suicides among veterans remain unchanged despite federal focus

The figures are the latest available from federal census data and suggest limited progress on the issue of suicide prevention by Veterans Affairs leaders.

Looming government shutdown could hurt military families, veterans

Plans to avert a partial government shutdown starting this weekend appeared scuttled after President-elect Donald Trump opposed the bipartisan deal.

Live in the Tricare West Region? Do this before Dec. 31.

Beneficiaries in the West Region who don't provide recurring payment information could risk losing Tricare coverage.

Senate finalizes plans for a massive junior enlisted pay boost in 2025

Troops ranked E-4 and below would see a 14.5% raise and all other troops a 4.5% raise under legislation headed to the White House.

Load More