Broadband Scandal Contractor Gets Prison Time in Maryland

In a Baltimore courtroom, a federal judge handed down a 20-month prison sentence to Wayne I. Kacher, Jr., a 52-year-old Harford County contractor. The ruling came nearly a year after a jury convicted him of conspiracy, honest services wire fraud, and federal program bribery. Kacher’s case peeled back layers of corruption tied to Maryland’s efforts to expand broadband access, revealing a tangled web of kickbacks and personal gain.

The sentencing followed a seven-day trial in May 2024, spotlighting a scheme that stretched from 2014 to 2018. Alongside Kacher, William Patrick Mitchell, the former head of the Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MdBC), received a sentence of one year and one day in October 2024 for his role. Together, their actions compromised a project meant to connect underserved communities with high-speed internet, raising sharp questions about accountability in public-private partnerships.

The Maryland Broadband Cooperative aimed to bridge a glaring digital divide, linking rural areas with reliable internet through fiber-optic networks. Trial evidence laid out how MdBC paid Kacher’s company, Bel Air Underground, over $11 million for installation work, including a $7.9 million contract to boost connectivity between NASA Wallops Island and Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Yet, beneath this noble goal lurked a grimy exchange.

Kacher funneled cash, an all-terrain vehicle, a John Deere Gator, and even funded renovations on Mitchell’s property, including a pole building. In return, Mitchell steered lucrative subcontracts to Kacher’s firm. This quid pro quo not only padded their pockets but also cast a shadow over a mission critical to education, healthcare, and economic growth in Maryland’s overlooked corners.

This case echoes a broader pattern of corruption in government contracting. Federal authorities have long targeted bribery under laws like 18 U.S.C. § 666, which cracks down on misconduct in programs receiving federal funds. Recent examples abound, from Cambridge International Systems’ $2.25 million fine for bribing a naval employee to Raytheon’s $950 million penalty for defrauding the Department of Defense. These incidents underline the stakes when public money fuels private gain.

Advocates for rural connectivity argue that such scandals could derail progress. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has poured billions into broadband expansion, with initiatives like the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program targeting areas like those MdBC served. Yet, without tighter oversight, taxpayers and underserved residents risk losing out. On the flip side, contractors and industry voices stress that most firms operate above board, and punishing isolated bad actors suffices to deter fraud.

Kacher’s conviction hinged on honest services wire fraud, a charge refined by Supreme Court rulings like Skilling v. United States in 2010 to focus squarely on bribes and kickbacks. Legal experts note that these boundaries aim to keep prosecutions precise, avoiding vague overreach. Still, sentencing stirs debate. Kacher’s 20 months and Mitchell’s lighter term reflect judicial weighing of culpability and harm, a trend in white-collar cases where penalties vary widely.

Data from early 2025 shows a 20.4% drop in white-collar convictions since 2020, with judges often tailoring sentences to individual roles rather than blanket guidelines. Supporters of stricter punishment argue that short terms fail to deter deep-pocketed offenders. Others, including defense advocates, contend that the real fix lies in systemic checks, not just locking people up longer.

At its core, this case isn’t just about two men gaming the system; it’s about what’s lost when trust erodes. High-speed internet has become a lifeline, powering remote learning, telehealth, and job opportunities in places long left behind. Federal and state efforts, from Minnesota’s broadband mapping to tribal connectivity grants, show the momentum. A single fraud case won’t halt that, but it dents confidence in how funds are spent.

The FBI and Justice Department hailed the investigation as a win for accountability, signaling vigilance over the billions flowing into infrastructure. For Marylanders waiting on faster internet, though, the sting of betrayal lingers. Each dollar siphoned off delays a connection that could change a kid’s education or a patient’s care.

Kacher’s prison term closes one chapter, but the story’s far from over. Policymakers face pressure to tighten safeguards on federal grants, balancing oversight with the urgency to wire rural America. The False Claims Act and whistleblower lawsuits remain key tools, recovering billions annually from fraudulent contractors. Still, the human cost of corruption hits hardest in communities already stretched thin.

For now, the Maryland case stands as a stark reminder: noble projects can falter when greed creeps in. As broadband ambitions grow, so does the need to keep the process clean. Residents, not headlines, deserve the last word on whether these efforts deliver.