A former vendor for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) was found guilty by a federal jury for his involvement in a bribery and wire fraud conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced on Wednesday.
A jury found Yelake Meseretu, 41, guilty of conspiracy to violate federal law, bribery, and honest services wire fraud following a four-and-a-half-day trial.
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Meseretu paid bribes and kickbacks to two DCPS procurement officials over at least five years in exchange for lucrative contracts for his office goods and janitorial supply company, U.S. Office Solutions, according to evidence presented at the trial.
Meseretu delivered fewer supplies than ordered and falsified paperwork to inflate order quantities, according to the prosecution. DCPS paid the full amount based on false certifications, and Meseretu shared the overpayment with the two officials through cash kickbacks.
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In addition to Meseretu’s conviction, Patricia Bailey, a former administrative officer at DCPS’s Cardozo Education Campus, pleaded guilty on Oct. 12, 2023, to one count of bribery for her role in the scheme.
U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta has scheduled Meseretu’s sentencing for Feb. 6, 2026. He faces up to 15 years in prison.