"S&K Technologies [Web Site], an information technology business owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after one of its employees, Robert Stein Jr., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to conspiracy, money laundering, bribery and taking kickbacks.

Stein, a North Carolina businessman previously convicted of credit card fraud, was hired as a construction adviser after S&K Technologies received a $5 million defense contract to help rebuild Iraq.

Stein stole millions in reconstruction money and used it to purchase grenade launchers, machine guns, a personal computer, interest in a Porsche, a Cessna airplane, real estate, 18 Breitling watches, a 6-carat diamond ring and a collection of silver dollars.

In addition, Stein provided women for sexual favors to people he wanted to influence. While in Iraq, he controlled $82 million.

"The Army very much liked Stein," said Pat Smith, an attorney for S&K Technologies. "He was one of the very few they asked to stay. And SKT had no idea they put him in charge of the money as a comptroller. He was hired because of his construction background."

Stein, who was convicted of defrauding a financial institution in 1996, slipped through a background check carried out between the Department of Defense and S&K Technologies, company officials said last week."

Get the Story:
Jodi Rave: Tribal tech worker admits committing fraud while in Iraq (The Missoulian 2/12)

Relevant Links:
Jodi Rave Lee - http://www.missoulian.com/jodirave

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