Ex-federal employee pleads guilty in Fort Knox-Nolin case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – A retired federal employee has pleaded guilty after one day of trial to violating conflict of interest laws.

The U.S. attorney’s office says 68-year-old Gary Thomas Meredith of Leitchfield pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Louisville. Prosecutors say Meredith admitted being involved in creation of a contract in which he had financial interest.

Sentencing will be March 9.

A news release from prosecutors says Meredith was energy manager at Fort Knox for more than 20 years. The release says before retiring, Meredith negotiated the pricing of a contractor position with Nolin Rural Electric Cooperative Corp. and arranged with Nolin to work in the position.

Nolin earlier agreed to pay more $7.6 million in civil penalties and forfeitures resulting from its business dealings with Meredith and Fort Knox.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.