United States v. John C. Hollingshead

Appellant John C. Hollingshead was convicted following a jury trial of receiving bribes as a public official in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201 (c)(2) (1976), and receiving gratuities for official acts as a former public official. 18 U.S.C. § 201 (g) (1976).

Hollingshead was employed as building service manager for the Los Angeles Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (FRB), from November 1977 to November 1978. His responsibilities included soliciting and obtaining bona fide competitive bids from qualified contractors for FRB capital projects in excess of $1,000. Following receipt of the required number of bids, Hollingshead reported the results on purchase requisitions reflecting the lowest bidder as the vendor. A FRB purchasing committee reviewed and approved all purchase requisitions between $1000 and $100,-000. Any FRB capital expenditure in excess of $100,000 was reviewed and approved directly by the Federal Reserve Board.

At trial the evidence showed that Hollingshead received bribes and kickbacks from independent contractors to influence him in making purchase requisitions. The jury found that certain independent contractors conspired with Hollingshead to…