We Battled from Okinawa to Parris Island & Won

U.S. v. Marine E-7 – Iraq, Okinawa, & Parris Island, South Carolina

Allegations: Accepting bribes, Contractor Fraud, Larceny
Max Punishment: 50 years in prison, Dishonorable Discharge
Result: RETAINED ON ACTIVE DUTY
Sentence: NONE
Discharge: NONE
Location/Branch/Rank: Iraq, Okinawa, & Parris Island, SC/Marine Corps/E-7

Court Martial Case Summary: Our client, a Marine with 24 years of service, oversaw millions of dollars in US contracts and dozens of international contracting companies. In recent years, the Department of Defense has cracked down on contractor fraud, targeting numerous contracting officers in the Middle East. NCIS, operating under the assumption that all contracting officers were guilty, set their sights on our client.

In 2007, Mr. Waddington got involved, traveling the globe to defend the Marine and his family. The Government spent over $500,000 and eight years investigating this case, scapegoating our client for the widespread corruption and bribery in the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Central Asia.

From Iraq to Okinawa to Parris Island, Mr. Waddington relentlessly fought the case. Despite immense government pressure, he refused to back down.

Result: Retained on Active Duty

Aftermath: Instead of facing life in prison and a dishonorable discharge, our client continued his service, a testament to the relentless and aggressive defense by Mr. Waddington.

Read what our client had to say about our representation (this is a quote from a review posted by the client):

“Relentless and Aggressive Military Defense Attorney”

“My legal issue began in the summer of 2007, and Mr. Waddington carefully and diligently defended my case for six years running. When you become a “suspect” in any military investigation, they will go to great lengths to convict you and send you to prison. I am living proof that Mr. Waddington is the only attorney you can trust with your life and freedom. In 2008, after months of investigation by Federal and Military law enforcement, I was facing a court martial with the possibility of years in prison.

Mr. Waddington flew to the other side of the world (literally) to meet the prosecutor face-to-face and combat the allegations prior to the charges being filed. Judging from my experience, you cannot afford to wait and “see what happens.”

The earlier you get Michael on your case, the better chance you will have to protect your rights and freedom. After that meeting in 2008, the prosecution offered me an Other than Honorable discharge in lieu of proceeding to Court-Martial, but Mr. Waddington was adamant that I was not guilty of the allegations, and we agreed to fight it out in front of a jury.

The prosecution never filed the charges because of the pretrial investigation conducted by Mr. Waddington and his ability to expose all of the facts surrounding the case, not just the facts provided by military investigators. At this point in the ordeal, Mr. Waddington and I believed the case was complete, and I was “in the clear,” so to speak.

We were unaware that the military reinvestigated for the next two years straight and traveled all over the world to gather evidence to ruin my life. Fast forward to 2010, and I received a target letter from a US Attorney’s Office threatening me with a Federal Felony Indictment on the same charges that the military never filed. I was scared shitless, but I turned to the man I trusted with my life, Mr. Waddington. Although Mr. Waddington wasn’t admitted to practice in that particular District Court, he led me and guided me through the whole process without obligation to help me other than his passion for justice.

At this point, I relied on internet posts and advertisements to find another Attorney admitted in that District to defend me, and the bottom line was I made the wrong choice. Many Attorneys will talk a big game up until you pay them, and then they will spend the rest of the time trying to convince you to take a “deal.” I thank God that I had met Mr. Waddington, and he taught me that your freedom and life are worth fighting for until the bitter end. I stood my ground for the next three years and fought a Federal Indictment with guidance from Mr. Waddington.

In 2013, my ordeal was over, and I had a Federal Conviction on my record, but I was still on Active Duty, so the military decided to process me for Administrative Separation. Again, without hesitation, I called the man who, in my opinion, is the one who will fight for the best possible outcome, even when the house of cards has already fallen.

Now the rules have changed, and every piece of evidence against me is admissible before this AdSep board, and the Government is relentless when it comes to gathering evidence to send you to prison. Mr. Waddington doesn’t care about the odds or the conviction rates. He cares about us, and he proved that again when he convinced every board member to retain me on active duty with a Federal Conviction.

He saved my career, freedom, and dignity. When you are a target for the US Government, you can bet your freedom that they will do everything in their power to crush you and lock you up. You cannot afford not to hire Mr. Waddington; I’m telling you from my personal experience. Relentless, aggressive, compassionate, intelligent, and a long-ball hitter. Thanks, Mike. Words cannot express what you have done for my family and me.”