State Dept. Worker Fired For Allegedly Taking Bribes in Iraq

A State Department manager charged with taking tens of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks on contracts for Iraq reconstruction work is no longer employed by the U.S. government.

Richard Lopez Razo was arrested on Friday, the same day his contract as a provincial program manager in Iraq expired, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Wednesday.

Court records allege that Razo, 52, began demanding bribes and kickbacks from Iraqi companies in 2005 when he was with a government contractor based in California that had numerous contracts in Iraq.

In August 2008, Razo began working for the State Department. His job involved overseeing rebuilding projects in southern Iraq. Once in government service, Razo "continued his scheme to obtain bribes in return for the award of U.S. government contracts to Iraqi contractors," according to the court filings unsealed Monday.

On regular trips home to the U.S., Razo would deposit the money into a personal bank account, authorities allege.

Razo has been released on personal recognizance. He listed a North Carolina telephone number on a court document but did not return calls seeking comment.

Kelly said he could provide little information because Razo is the subject of a current criminal investigation. He said Razo had a temporary civil service appointment "that was limited to Iraq only and limited to a particular time frame."

The case is being handled by the office of the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. The office declined to comment on the case.

Kelly declined to say what role the State Department has played in the inquiry.