U.S. Army Private Arrested on Bribery Charges

TUCSON , Ariz.U.S. Army Private First Class Christina M. Swenson, 39, of Tucson, was arrested by the FBI and was charged by federal criminal complaint with Bribery of a Public Official. She is currently in federal custody. The criminal complaint alleges that Swenson, while acting in her official duty, accepted four bribes totaling $3,500. Swenson is assigned to the USO Lounge at the Tucson International Airport (TIA) where her primary official duty is to assist U.S. Army soldiers arriving at TIA to obtain transportation to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The FBI obtained information that Swenson was soliciting bribes to steer military personnel to transportation companies of her choice. According to the complaint, the owner of one of the shuttle services agreed to cooperate in the investigation and record conversations and meetings with Swenson. In November and December 2008, the cooperating individual met with Swenson and provided her with $700, $1,000, $800 and $1000 in U.S. Currency at her residence in Tucson on four separate dates. The cooperating individual and Swenson discussed on several occasions that the money was in exchange for Swenson giving the cooperating individual all the soldiers to transport. FBI Special Agents arrested Swenson without incident after she received a fifth bribe payment of $1,000. A conviction for bribery of a public official carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.