Housing Repair Contractor: Bribe or Gratuity?

• Author: Cecil C. Kuhne III
• Pages: 19-23

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Housing Repair

Contractors:

Bribe or Gratuity?

United States v. Jennings

160 F.3d 1006 (4th Cir. 1998)

Larry Jennings, a housing repair contractor, was found guilt y of three

counts of violating a federal statute that prohibits corruption of ocia ls

who administer state and local programs disbursing federal funds.

Jennings argued that the statute outlaws only bribes, not gratuities,

and that the government did not prove that the payments he made to

a city ocial were act ually bribes. Jennings also contended that a new

trial was required because the jury instruct ions misstated the “corrupt

intent” element of bribery by failing to requi re proof of intent to engage

in a quid pro quo.