August of last year, we reported on Paul Shin Devine, a global supply manager at Apple who was accused of taking kickbacks, and found to have stashed $150,000 in shoeboxes (which is weird, though not illegal). Devine has now pleaded guilty to the charges of passing on confidential information to suppliers to help them form contracts with Apple — and then getting some fat stacks of bills for his hard work.
Devine has plead guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, and has agreed to forfeit $2.8 million in cash and property.
“Mr. Devine is a good man who made a mistake, and now he’s trying to make amends,” said his attorney. I’m sorry, but taking $2.8 million in kickbacks is not a mistake. Not realizing that the first envelope that a Chinese manufacturer slipped you is filled with money is a mistake. Not returning it is a crime. Going back for more is rampant corruption.
Devine faces up to 20 years in prison for the charges.
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