A former airport executive has pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and money laundering which cost the Metro Nashville Airport Authority $1.1 million.
As assistant vice president at the airport, John T. Howard, Jr conspired with local contractors to invoice the airport for construction and repair work never carried out.
He is accused of pocketing kickbacks in cash from Nashville area construction and cleaning contractors.
In one instance a contractor paid for flight tickets worth $49,000 for players and coaches of a youth basketball team Howard had founded, according to federal prosecutors.
"Persons who hold a position of public trust and abuse their position to enrich themselves with taxpayer money will be held strictly accountable," said US district attorney David Rivera.
Howard has now pleaded guilty to three federal felony charges and issued a stament through his attorney.
"I take full responsibility for my misconduct. I made a terrible decision. What I did was wrong. I’ve failed my family, and the athletes in my basketball program, and I must now try to rebuild what I have broken," Howard said.
Howard will be sentenced in January and faces up to 20 years in prison for the charge of conspiracy and up to 10 years for bribery and money laundering.
He will also have to pay restitution to the Metro Nashville Airport Authority.
