By Brian Bowling

Published: Thursday, December 6, 2012, 11:08 a.m.
Updated: Thursday, December 6, 2012

A former city employee pleaded guilty Thursday to taking $6,000 to help a businessman defraud Pittsburgh on a federally funded contract.

Christine Ann Kebr, 55, admitted that she helped Arthur J. Bedway, 63, of Robinson set up a sham “woman-owned” company, Alpha Outfitters LLC in Esplen, so that he could bid on the contract to install mobile data terminals in city police vehicles.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Cessar said Kebr, a senior systems analyst for the city until July 2011, manipulated the bidding process so that Bedway's company obtained the contract, which paid more than $327,000 between 2006 and 2009.

She also created the invoices the company submitted to the city so that it would overpay for the work, he said.

Bedway, the owner of Carnegie-based Victory Security, is facing federal charges of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud.

U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon scheduled Kebr's sentencing for April 4. Kebr faces up to five years in prison, a possible fine and three years of probation.

Kebr and her attorney, Gary Gerson, declined comment after the hearing. She remains free on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Brian Bowling is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-325-4301 or bbowling@tribweb.com.

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