December 20, 2023
A former LinkedIn supervisor pleaded responsible on Dec. 18 to prices that concerned taking kickbacks from unbiased contractors, the US Division of Justice reported.
The previous supervisor, Kent Laird of Bothell, Washington, submitted false invoices from two unbiased contractors to LinkedIn for which the agency paid $689,210, based on the division. Laird acquired $184,050 in kickbacks.
Laird had served at LinkedIn as head of content material, video and studios for LinkedIn Media Productions, based on the press launch.
Among the many allegations within the case: Laird advisable in June and October 2018 the corporate rent two unbiased contractors to help him with producing podcasts regardless of realizing neither particular person had skilled expertise as a podcast producer, based on the division. Over an 18-month interval, Laird permitted greater than 129 false invoices from the contractors. The division stated the invoices have been permitted regardless of little to no podcast writing and producing work.
A grand jury indicted Laird on Feb. 21 of this 12 months on two counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and 18 counts of mail fraud. Nonetheless, Laird pleaded responsible to the 2 conspiracy counts as a part of a plea settlement, based on the division. If Laird complies with the settlement, the remaining counts will probably be dismissed at sentencing.
SIA had reached out to Larid’s lawyer for remark in addition to LinkedIn.
Sentencing has been set for March 7, 2024.
United States of America v. Kent Laird, US District Courtroom for the Northern District of California; 3:23-cr-00063-JSC.
