Mediaboss Marketing

A U.S. business with hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts is being accused of allowing major violations to occur at the Balad Air Base in Iraq then allegedly firing investigators who uncovered the activities, reports the Associated Press.

Robert Cole and Kristie King reportedly identified serious misconduct by employees of Sallyport Global, a company which had been awarded almost $700 million to secure the base amid U.S. efforts to fight extremism in the area.

The pair alleges that staff participated in sex trafficking, alcohol smuggling, and lax security which enabled outsiders to steal heavy equipment like large generators.

RELATED: Jared Kushner's visit to Iraq

17 PHOTOS

Jared Kushner's visit to Iraq

See Gallery

U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner (L) speaks with Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, before departing for Iraq from Ramstein Air Base, Germany April 3, 2017. DoD/Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Jared Kushner, senior advisor and son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump, meets Iraqi security officials in Baghdad, Iraq, April 3, 2017. DoD/Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSFOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Jared Kushner, senior advisor and son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump, sits in on a meeting with Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Ministry of Defense in Baghdad, Iraq, April 3, 2017. DoD/Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSFOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Jared Kushner, senior advisor and son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives for meetings in Baghdad, Iraq, April 3, 2017. DoD/Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSFOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Jared Kushner, senior advisor and son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump takes a helicopter ride over Baghdad, Iraq, April 3, 2017. DoD/Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSFOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Jared Kushner (R), senior advisor and son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump, receives a gift from Iraq's Minister of Defense Erfan al-Hiyali at the Ministry of Defense in Baghdad, Iraq, April 3, 2017. DoD/Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSFOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Jared Kushner (R), senior advisor and son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump, meets Iraq's Minister of Defense Erfan al-Hiyali at the Ministry of Defense in Baghdad, Iraq, April 3, 2017. DoD/Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSFOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

HIDE CAPTION

SHOW CAPTION

The Associated Press notes that on March 12, after more than a year on the job, they were reportedly both fired with no explanation. King says it was because they "knew too much."

While the Pentagon had no response to the story, Sallyport executive Matt Stuckart issued a statement saying, in part, "The company takes any suggestion of wrongdoing at Balad very seriously."

In January this year, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that it had awarded Sallyport an additional $200 million modification to a previous contract "for base life support, base operations support, and security for Balad Air Base, Iraq."

According to the company's website, it has 1,850 employees supporting the base in providing services like facilities operations, repair and maintenance, fire and medical, and crisis management.

The claims against Sallyport are another recent example of alleged misconduct related to the U.S. military; in March, several high-ranking Naval officers were charged, according to a Justice Department news release, of "acting as a team of moles for a foreign defense contractor, trading military secrets and substantial influence for sex parties with prostitutes, extravagant dinners, and luxury travel." The release further stated the scandal "ultimately cost the Navy and U.S. taxpayers tens of millions of dollars."

See original here:
Report: Major US contractor accused of misconduct in Iraq - AOL