For release on October 19, 2020
CONTACT:
John Chase
Deputy District Attorney
Public Integrity Unit
(408) 792-2595
Two More Employees of International Security Firm Plead Guilty to Involvement in Concealed Firearms License Bribery Scheme
Two former managers of an international security firm specializing in executive protection pleaded guilty today to charges related to a scheme to bribe the Santa Clara County Sheriff to obtain concealed firearms permits.
Martin Nielsen, 42, the former executive protection and executive projects director of AS Solution, Inc., and Jack Stromgren, 43, the company’s former director of operations for embedded projects, pleaded guilty during a hearing in the Hall of Justice in San Jose this morning. Their sentences will be determined at a later hearing.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen said: “Mr. Nielsen and Mr. Stromgren testified honestly at the grand jury with no promises made to them. We are pleased that they have now, accordingly, taken responsibility for their parts in this bribery scheme.”
Christian West, aka Christian Hansen, 51, the former CEO and founder of AS Solution, pleaded guilty to related charges in August. For their cooperation and honest testimony before a grand jury, the three defendants faced reduced charges.
Still facing pending felony charges are Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Captain James Jensen, attorney Christopher Schumb, attorney Harpaul Nahal, and business owner Michael Nichols for their part in the bribery scheme to get the coveted and difficult-to-obtain permits for the company’s employees. The defendants are accused of conspiring to engineer a $90,000 bribe--$45,000 of which went to support Sheriff Laurie Smith’s re-election in 2018—to obtain concealed firearms permits (CCW licenses) for the company’s executive protection agents.
Nielsen was charged with three misdemeanors: conspiracy to solicit the acceptance of a bribe, conspiracy to file CCW license applications with false statements, and making a campaign contribution in a false name. Stromgren was charged with a misdemeanor count of conspiracy to file CCW license applications with false statements.
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