Former Tennessee Department of Correction official Wesley Olan Landers is facing federal charges in connection with a scheme to steer a $123 million contract to a behavioral health services company in exchange for a job. Landers, along with Jeffrey Scott Wells, are accused of conspiracy to obstruct justice and commit perjury by providing information to Wells during the bidding process for the state contract.
Corizon, a prison contractor, filed a lawsuit alleging that Landers communicated with a Centurion vice president during the contracting process and ultimately secured a job with a Centurion affiliate. The bid-rigging lawsuit against the state of Tennessee was dismissed in early 2022.
Both men were fired by Centurion after it was discovered that Landers had shared confidential state information with Wells. Federal prosecutors claim they attempted to cover up their deal and commit perjury by deleting emails and communicating on new cell phones to avoid subpoenas and court appearances.
In addition to the Tennessee case, Corizon also protested when the state of Missouri awarded a prison health care contract to Centurion, despite a higher cost than what lawmakers had allocated for prison medical services. Centurion failed to disclose the bid-rigging allegations involving Landers and Wells from the Tennessee contract bidding process.
The situation raises concerns about transparency and fairness in the bidding process for government contracts. If convicted, Landers and Wells could face up to five years in federal prison. The case highlights the potential for corruption and unethical behavior in state contracting procedures, potentially impacting the quality and cost of services provided to incarcerated individuals.
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