Hopewell couple faces federal prison time in Fort Lee bribery conspiracy

Bill Atkinson, The Progress-Index
·1 min read

RICHMOND — A Hopewell couple has pleaded guilty in federal court on charges they conspired with a Missouri man on bribery in order for the man's company to get maintenance-supplies contracts at Fort Lee.

Russell John Keim, 60, and Susan May Keim, 54, entered their pleas last week in U.S. DIstrict Court. Their co-defendant, 67-year-old Rodney Gale Wilson of Imperial, Missouri, pleaded guilty Tuesday in the same court. All three were charged with conspiracy with respect to bribes of public officials.

Susan Keim worked for Skookum Educational Services, a contractor thatprovided maintenance and supply services to Fort Lee. According to court records, between 2013 and 2018, she funneled at least $912,000 in supply subcontracts to Wilson's C&L Supply, and in return, Wilson gave the couple checks and cash payments disguised as compensation for Russell Keim for work he reportedly performed for C&L, and as payments for work done on property owned by the couple.

Each could face up to five years in prison when they are sentenced in April 2023, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia said in an email late Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell couple could spent five years in prison for bribery