November 17, 2015

Former Glock Manager and Wife Sentenced for Taking Bribes, Kickbacks

TOPEKA, KS—A former regional manager for the company that makes Glock firearms was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison for conspiring to take bribes and kickbacks, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. The man’s wife was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for her part in the scheme.

Welcome D. “Bo” Wood, Jr., 66, Oviedo, Fla., who was the Eastern Regional Manager for Glock, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. His wife, Paula Ann Wood, 65, Oviedo, Fla., pleaded guilty one count of conspiracy, too.

Co-defendant John Sullivan Ralph, III, was sentenced to 18 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy. Ralph, who owned Global Guns & Hunting, Inc., of Olathe, doing business as OB Guns, admitted he paid 140 bribes and kickbacks to Glock employees totaling approximately $900,000. Welcome Wood accepted gifts, payments and other things of value from Ralph in return for preferential treatment. Paula Wood received checks made payable to her as part of a plan to conceal the bribes.

Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway for their work on the case.