Ex-major accused of bribery in Tobyhanna case

ALLENTOWN - A former Army major helped steer millions of dollars in government contracts at a northeastern Pennsylvania depot to a computer company in exchange for $30,000 in merchandise, federal prosecutors said yesterday as they announced the latest charge in a long-running bribery case.

Hieu Tran, 52, of Centreville, Va., gave ComputerGiants.com Inc. inside information that allowed the New York-based firm to underbid competitors, prosecutors said. Between 2001 and 2005, the company was paid $7.8 million for goods and services provided to Tobyhanna Army Depot.

Court documents indicate that Tran intends to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Tran's attorney, Douglas C. McNabb, did not immediately return a phone call yesterday.

- AP