The New York Times reports (here) that Philip Bloom has been charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, interstate transportation of stolen property, and conspiracy to launder money related to payments made to two coconspirators and their wives to obtain reconstruction contracts in Iraq.  Bloom controls three companies that have $3.5 million in contracts awarded by the Coalition Provisional Authority, and is accused of making payments of up to $200,000 to the two unidentified coconspirators and others in the C.P.A.  The article quotes the criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia as involving contracts related to "the renovation of the Karbala Public Library; demolition work related to, and construction of, the Al Hillah Police Academy; the upgrading of security of the Al Hillah Police Academy, and the construction of the Regional Tribal Democracy Center."  (ph)