- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Wilmington Today
By the People, for the People
North Carolina Executive Pleads Guilty to Rigging $8M in Military Contracts
Thomas C. Rollins faces up to 10 years in prison for coordinating bids with competitors to eliminate competition
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A manufacturing executive in Wilmington, North Carolina has pleaded guilty to a federal antitrust charge for participating in a long-running conspiracy to manipulate U.S. military contract bids. Thomas C. Rollins admitted that his company and others secretly coordinated pricing and submitted intentionally inflated 'cover bids' to ensure pre-selected winners, steering more than $8 million in contracts without true competition.
Why it matters
Military contracts rely on competitive bidding to keep costs down and ensure fairness. When companies secretly coordinate pricing, it distorts the system and weakens trust in government procurement. Federal officials have made clear that individuals, not just corporations, will be held accountable for antitrust violations like bid rigging.
The details
Prosecutors say the scheme spanned several years and involved agreements between competing companies to eliminate real price competition. Instead of competing honestly, the companies allegedly decided in advance who would win contracts and submitted intentionally inflated 'cover bids' to avoid undercutting one another.
- The conspiracy took place over several years.
- Rollins pleaded guilty on February 10, 2026.
The players
Thomas C. Rollins
A manufacturing executive in Wilmington, North Carolina who pleaded guilty to a federal antitrust charge for participating in a bid-rigging scheme involving military contracts.
What’s next
A sentencing date has not yet been announced, but Rollins faces up to 10 years in prison and significant criminal fines for the felony antitrust violation.
The takeaway
This guilty plea is part of a broader enforcement push by federal officials targeting collusion and bid rigging in industries tied to government spending. It serves as a warning that individuals, not just corporations, will be held accountable for undermining the integrity of the military procurement process.
