Two Alabama men and a government contracting official for Redstone Arsenal pleaded guilty Wednesday for their roles in a conspiracy to bribe a public official, prosecutors announced.

Coogan Preston, the 55-year-old Redstone Arsenal official from Columbia, South Carolina, and Alabama residents Francisco Guerra, 55, of Lexington and Jason Ingram, 47, of Rogersville, pleaded guilty in Huntsville federal court to conspiracy to bribe a public official.

The scheme occurred from 2016 to 2021 and involved Guerra agreeing to provide money and other items of value to Preston in exchange for Preston identifying subcontracting opportunities for companies owned and operated by Guerra.

Preston then convinced the prime contractor to use one of Guerra’s companies as a subcontractor.

“This office is committed to prosecuting individuals who illegally prioritize their personal gain over the fiduciary responsibilities of a federal government official,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona of the Northern District of Alabama, who along with Keith Kelly, special agent in charge for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office announced the guilty pleas. “Persons who seek to enrich themselves through bribes and illegal payments undermine the public’s trust and the basic concept of fairness.”

The men pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Liles Burke, who scheduled sentencing hearing for March 15.

“We are very pleased with today’s announcement,” said Kelly. “This is a true testament to our continued commitment to work closely and seamlessly with our outstanding fellow law enforcement agencies to help bring those to justice who attempt to defraud the U.S. Government and U.S. Army.”