CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – A man has been sentenced to 21 months in jail for conspiring to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs and paying bribes to a public official.

John Burke of Derry admitted that over a five-year period, he provided numerous bribes to a Veterans Affairs worker in exchange for government contracts worth more than $3 million, which were awarded to Burke’s home-repair business.

Burke also acknowledged that he corruptly influenced the conduct of the employee, Robert Mayer, by making cash payments to him and paying for his home improvements, such as new shingles on his roof and new ceiling fans.

Burke also admitted that he, a plumber and an electrician caused Mayer to steer government contracts to them by renovating Mayer’s home. The U.S. Attorney’s office said the plumber received more than $600,000 in government contracts and the electrician received about $100,000 in contracts.

Burke and his business have agreed to pay $300,000 to settle allegations stemming from a civil complaint.

The complaint alleged that Burke and his business submitted at least 126 false claims to the VA for work that wasn’t done or was performed by someone else who also was paid by the VA. Burke didn’t admit liability.

Burke’s sister, Kelli Burke, was named as a defendant in the case. Prosecutors alleged that Kelli Burke, doing business under the name Final Touch Cleaning, submitted at least 28 false claims to the VA for work that she did not perform. She did not admit liability, but agreed to pay $40,000 to settle the allegations.

Mayer has been sentenced to 63 months in jail.

AP-ES-10-25-06 0501EDT