C&D Distributors in Lexington, South Carolina, received about $20.5 million since 2000 from the Pentagon for fraudulent shipping costs, including $998,798 for sending two 19-cent washers to an Army base in Texas.

The total amount of money the Pentagon spent on items with the company reached $68,000 over the six years; a stark contrast to the $20.5 million spent on shipping!

Pentagon spending is getting out of control! I would of hand delivered those babies for half the cost!

The company was also paid $455,009 to ship three machine screws that cost $1.31 each to marines in Habbaniyah, Iraq.

$293,451 was spent to send an 89-cent washer to Patrick Air Force Base in Cape Canaveral, Florida, records show.

The companies owners exploited an automated Defense Department purchasing system; they noticed that when bills were marked ‘priority’ for shipments to military bases or war zones they were usually paid automatically.

The conniving scheme was detected when a purchasing agent noticed a bill charging $969,000 to ship two 19-cent washers. The order was canceled and am investigation ensued.

C&D Distributors is now barred from any government contracts.

One of the owners, Charlene Corley, pleaded guilty one her behalf and the behalf of the company to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money. She has been fined $750,000 and faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years for each charge.

The Pentagon hopes to regain most of their loses by auctioning off houses, jewelery, cars, and property owned by the business owners.