G-Man Charged in Cruise Payoff

An FBI employee was indicted Tuesday for allegedly accepting an all-expenses-paid Caribbean cruise for his family's vacation after helping a shredding machine company win a $2 million contract.

As an equipment program manager at the FBI's headquarters in Washington, Curtis Jones of Annapolis, Md., was responsible for overseeing the $2 million shredders purchased from the unnamed company. The shredders were bought as part of an FBI equipment upgrade to comply with new national security regulations for destroying classified documents.

Shortly after the deal went through, Jones accepted an offer to take his family on the cruise with company executives and sales executives over the 2004 New Year's holiday, the Justice Department said.

Prosecutors valued the trip _ including lodging and airfare _ at $7,500.

The FBI's internal investigations unit was reviewing Jones's employment status following Tuesday's indictment, FBI spokesman Rich Kolko said.

Jones was charged with accepting an illegal gratuity for the performance of his official duties. If convicted, he faces two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.