Contractors Sentenced in Navy Bribery Scheme

Two San Diego contractors were sentenced for their role in a Navy bribery scheme Monday.

Robert Ehnow, 46, owner of L&N Industrial Tool and Supply, was sentenced to three years in federal prison. He will also have to pay $759,937 in restitution to the Navy.

Joanne Loehr, 52, owner of Centerline Industrial, Inc., will also spend three years in prison and pay $300,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Ehnow and Loehr were convicted bribery and conspiracy in March. They were convicted of bribing officials at Naval Air Station North Island with lavish gifts, including cash, gift cards, massage chairs and flat screen TVs.

In exchange, L&N, Centerline and a third company, X&D Supply, Inc., received more than $6 million in defense contracts.

Federal officials started investigating the case in 2009 after receiving an anonymous tip. Four other contractors and five former Navy officials have already been convicted in the bribery ring, according to officials.

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