Foreign firms admit to cheating U.S. Military

PHILADELPHIA — Two foreign companies have pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy for overcharging the U.S. military in connection with a contract to provide food and water to troops in Afghanistan.

The case involves Supreme Group B.V., a privately held Dutch corporation, and its subsidiaries, Supreme Foodservice GmbH of Switzerland and Supreme Foodservice FZE of United Arab Emirates. The companies agreed to pay $288 million in fines and restitution, plus $101 million to resolve a whistleblower suit.

"Supreme Group accepts full responsibility for, and deeply regrets our actions that led to this situation," Emma Sharma, a Supreme Group attorney and ethics officer, said in a video statement on the company's website.

She said the company has hired new senior management and installed new controls "to ensure that this conduct was never repeated."