A former Armenian employee of the US Army Corps of Engineers pleaded guilty to receiving bribes from Iraqi contractors. Thomas Aram Manok, 50, of Chantilly, Virginia, pleaded guilty before a Virginia District Court, US Justice Department’s statement said.

Manok confessed to having received $10,000 from Iraqi contractors to approve contract for construction of a kindergarten, Marketwatch.com informs.    

Manok admitted he intended to use his connections and to conceal the payments from US authorities by transferring them, via associates, to Armenia.

Sentencing has been scheduled for December 9.  Thomas Aram Manok faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.