A former Security Specialist with the U.S. Department of Energy pleaded guilty on Mar. 11 in federal court in Boston to charges related to bribing another department employee for government contracts.
The case highlights concerns about corruption and integrity within government agencies, particularly when employees seek personal gain through illegal means.
Edward Doherty, age 35, from Washington, D.C. and Weymouth, Massachusetts, admitted guilt to honest services fraud, payment of illegal gratuities, and bribery of a public official. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns set sentencing for July 8, 2026. Doherty had been indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025.
According to the prosecution, Doherty worked at the Department of Energy until February 2025 when he entered a deferred resignation program. Before leaving his position but after forming MAE Systems LLC in November 2024—a private company based in Massachusetts—Doherty offered money to another DOE employee so that his company would receive contracts from the agency. The incident was reported by the targeted DOE employee to law enforcement authorities.
Between February and June 2025, Doherty was recorded offering at least $10,000 as a bribe for awarding a contract to MAE Systems LLC and made two downpayments totaling $2,500 during this period.
If convicted on all counts at sentencing under current statutes and guidelines governing criminal cases before federal judges: honest services wire fraud carries up to twenty years’ imprisonment; payment of illegal gratuities can result in up to two years; bribery of a public official is punishable by up fifteen years—all charges also carry potential fines up $250,000 each plus periods supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the plea along with Ted E. Docks from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division and Department of Energy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe Sessions.
