Ex-CIA official guilty of conspiracy

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A former high-level CIA administrator pleaded guilty Monday to directing agency contracts to a defense contractor who was a friend and hiding the friendship.

Kyle Foggo, the spy agency's executive director November 2004 to May 2006, admitted in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., that he conspired to defraud the U.S. government through his relationship with California businessman Brent Wilkes, The Washington Post reported.

The one-time No. 3 man at the CIA was accused of using his seniority and influence at a previous agency job in Europe to help Wilkes, the Post said.

Foggo, the highest-ranking member of a federal intelligence or law enforcement agency convicted of a crime, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud conspiracy. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the 27 other counts against him and will recommend a sentence of no more than 37 months in prison at his Jan. 8 sentencing.

Wilkes separately was convicted of corruption last year in a federal court in San Diego, the Post said. In that case, Wilkes was found guilty of giving former Rep. Randy Cunningham, R-Calif., more than $700,000 in bribes. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.