Man Sentenced for Taking Kickbacks : Former Computer Company Buyer Ordered to Serve 30 Days

LOS ANGELES — A Huntington Beach man who admitted accepting about $2,000 in kickbacks while working as a buyer for an Orange County computer company was sentenced Monday to serve 30 days at a community treatment center and to perform 200 hours of community service.

At the sentencing, U.S. District Judge James M. Ideman said he wanted Donald Lloyd Watkins, 39, to have a “taste of jail” for his crime. Watkins previously pleaded guilty to three counts of mail fraud in connection with money he accepted while working as a buyer for Tecstor Inc. of Huntington Beach.

Watkins accepted the money from a man who served as a sales representative for suppliers who received subcontracts approved by Watkins, according to a federal grand jury indictment.

18 Others Also Indicted

Watkins originally was indicted for accepting a kickback while working as a buyer for HTLK West Co., a Santa Ana defense subcontractor. But, because he accepted less than $50, the government agreed to dismiss those charges.

In July, Watkins and 18 others were indicted after a major defense fraud investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office, FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and other federal agencies.

Ideman said he gave Watkins a light sentence because he draws a distinction between kickbacks on government contracts and embezzling money from a “private corporate victim.”

He said he was also impressed by Watkins’ military service, including his receipt of two Purple Hearts for being wounded during the Vietnam War.

Watkins said what he did was “a stupid thing.”

“I used it (the money) to pay debts I accumulated and to support my son,” said Watkins, who said he is a single parent with a 16-year-old son.

“I realize my career in that field has been ruined due to publicity.”

A Tecstor spokeswoman said Watkins worked as a buyer for the company, which makes computer equipment, between August, 1984, and February, 1986.