By Staff Writer

June 12, 2025 • Myakka City, FL

Darryl Britt, 64, of Myakka City, Florida, owner and president of Apprio, Inc., today pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official, concluding his role in a scheme that funneled more than $550 million in USAID contracts through illicit payments. justice.gov

A Tailored Small-Business Advantage Twisted by Corruption

Apprio, a certified SBA 8(a) firm, leveraged its “disadvantaged-business” status to secure sole-source contracts with the U.S. Agency for International Development. According to the Justice Department’s indictment, beginning in 2013, Britt conspired with USAID contracting officer Roderick Watson—who has since pleaded guilty to accepting bribes—to steer lucrative, noncompetitive awards to Apprio. When Apprio “graduated” from the 8(a) program in 2018, the scheme shifted: Britt arranged for Vistant (another 8(a) prime) to win new contracts while Apprio became Vistant’s subcontractor justice.gov.

Bribes in Cash, Laptops, Luxury Perks & More

Court filings detail how Britt concealed his pay-offs:

Cash payments routed through shell companies and false invoices
High-value gifts including laptops, cell phones, tickets to NBA-suite games, and a country-club wedding package
Real-estate perks such as mortgage down-payments on two homes and jobs for Watson’s relatives
Bank transfers falsely listing Watson on Apprio’s payroll

By mid-scheme, Watson had received over $1 million in bribes—payments that directly influenced contractor selection, performance reviews, security-clearance approvals, and funding increases on Apprio and Vistant awards justice.gov.

Deferred Prosecution & Next Steps

Alongside Britt’s plea, both Apprio and Vistant admitted criminal liability and entered into three-year Deferred Prosecution Agreements, obligating each company to:

Fully cooperate with ongoing DOJ investigations
Implement robust compliance and ethics programs
Report regularly on remedial measures

Britt faces a maximum five-year prison term; his sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2025. DOJ officials emphasized that this case “underscores the department’s commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars and preserving integrity in federal procurement.” justice.gov

Broader Implications

This sweeping bribery scheme—uncovered alongside parallel prosecutions of fellow executives Walter Barnes (Vistant) and Paul Young (subcontractor president)—highlights vulnerabilities in the SBA’s 8(a) set-aside process when oversight lapses. Justice Department leaders warn that anyone who exploits federal small-business programs for personal enrichment “will be held to account.” justice.gov

Read the Full DOJ Release: For the complete timeline of charges, details of the securities-fraud counts, and statements from DOJ and partner agencies, see the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs announcement.

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Florida Contractor Darryl Britt Pleads Guilty in Decade-Long USAID Bribery Scheme

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