Kris Bird, the owner of a contractor company providing fuel truck services to U.S. Forest Service wildfire crews, has pleaded guilty to a seven-count indictment just two weeks before trial. Bird admitted to bid-rigging, territory allocation, and wire fraud over an eight-year period, conspiring with others to manipulate contracts for wildfire-fighting fuel services in violation of antitrust laws.
The investigation, led by the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and the FBI, uncovered collusive practices that inflated taxpayer-funded contract costs. Bird’s plea follows the 2023 indictment of two other executives, who have also pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
Bird faces up to 10 years in prison for violating the Sherman Act and up to 20 years for wire fraud. His sentencing will be determined by a federal judge, considering legal guidelines and case-specific factors.
