Kris Bird, aged 62, was sentenced in Boise, Idaho, to three months in prison and fined $24,000 for his participation in schemes that involved rigging bids, allocating territories, and committing wire fraud over an eight-year period. He was also ordered to forfeit $1,542,387, which were proceeds from his fraudulent activities.

Bird pleaded guilty in March 2025, just two weeks before his trial was set to begin, to a seven-count indictment. His guilty plea followed an investigation that included evidence from a wiretap and led to charges against two other executives in December 2023. His co-defendant, Ike Tomlinson, aged 61, was sentenced earlier this month to 12 months in prison and fined $20,000 for his role in the conspiracy.

Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater emphasized that Bird's actions diverted taxpayer funds meant for wildfire-fighting efforts, highlighting the commitment of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division to combat such fraudulent activities. The FBI also reiterated that antitrust violations distort competition and harm consumers.

The conspirators coordinated their bids to inflate prices and determine who would receive priority for contracts from the U.S. Forest Service during wildfires. They also worked to exclude potential competitors to maintain their conspiracy's success. Bird submitted false certifications to the federal government to cover up his illegal activities from March 2015 to March 2023.

In addition to the criminal sentence, a civil settlement was reached in May 2025, where Bird and related entities agreed to pay $781,186 to resolve claims of obtaining government contracts through bid rigging and false certifications. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General were involved in the civil case.

The Procurement Collusion Strike Force, established by the Justice Department in November 2019, aims to combat antitrust crimes affecting government procurement and funding at all levels. The public is encouraged to report any information related to bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct.