KBR Employee (Anna Mayo) Says She Was Raped and Beaten By Fellow KBR Employee in Iraq
As many of you will remember MsSparky.com broke this story on Anna Mayo’s brutal rape and assault on December 4, 2009. Naturally we would not disclose her name at that time. There has been some speculation that Anna was somehow related to KBR’s #1 LOGCAP IV Manager, Principal Program Manager Mike Mayo. I have been informed by Anna’s attorney, Todd Kelly this is not the case.
KBR employee Anna Mayo, Age 27 Photo taken after attack at Joint Base Balad in Iraq (Courtesy of Kelly Law Firm)
By MARK SCHONE
June 3, 2010
Anna Mayo’s Lawsuit Is The Latest In A Series Against Military Contractor
According to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Houston Wednesday, Anna Mayo was working at KBR’s facility in Balad in November 2009 when she was assaulted by an unnamed rapist who worked for KBR. She charges that she was choked unconscious with a rope, beaten and raped. The suit seeks damages from KBR and from KBR subsidiary Service Employees International Inc., the contractor that employed Mayo from 2008 to 2009.
Without releasing the name of the victim, an Army spokesman confirmed that the military has investigated an alleged sexual assault that occurred at the time and place specified in Mayo’s suit.
In 2009, Tracy Barker won a $3 million judgment against KBR in arbitration over an alleged sexual assault in 2005 at a KBR-run camp in Iraq. A lawsuit filed by Jamie Leigh Jones alleging that she was gang-raped at a different facility in 2005 is still pending.
Attorney Todd Kelly, who filed the new complaint on behalf of Mayo and also represents Jones, said that up to 20 women have contacted his office alleging sexual harassment or assault while working for the contractor or at KBR installations overseas. “From the stories that I am hearing from the women that are coming back,” said Kelly, “and stories that I have heard from men that have reported these incidents, there does not appear to be any change in how KBR treats these victims or disciplines their employees.”
KBR spokeswoman Heather Browne said that the company takes Mayo’s allegations very seriously, and that “a thorough investigation is underway,” but that the alleged assailant in the case was not a KBR employee.
Anna Mayo after assault and rape (Courtesy of Kelly Law Firm)
Browne said it was inappropriate for the company to comment further on Mayo’s allegations because of a pending criminal investigation, but added that KBR “maintains strong and effective sexual harassment prevention and reporting programs.”
According to the complaint, Mayo was 26 when she signed a contract with Service Employees International Inc. (SEII) on October 31, 2008.
Beginning Nov. 1, 2008, Mayo lived and worked at Joint Base, Balad, Iraq. She lived in a converted shipping container and worked the night shift at the base.
On Nov. 27, 2009, according to the complaint, she was awakened by a knock at about 10:30 a.m. She allowed a man into her room, believing that he was a maintenance department employee. The man left after a few minutes after allegedly claiming he had checked her bathroom. She reported his visit to the supervisor of the Operations and Maintenance Department, who told her that he was not supposed to have entered her room.
Three days later, the same individual came back, entered her room and began beating her, according to the complaint. He allegedly slammed the door closed when she tried to escape. She fought with him, and bit him, but he allegedly placed a rope around her neck and tightened it until she lost consciousness.
Mayo’s complaint says that she woke up to find that she was being raped. The assailant beat her when she tried to crawl away, according to the complaint, tied her hands behind her back and smothered her with his hands and an item of clothing until she passed out again.
Anna Mayo (Courtesy Kelly Law Firm)
The complaint was filed with photos that show bruises and abrasions to Mayo’s face, arm and neck. Mayo’s attorney, Todd Kelly, said he had spoken to the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and that the Army had identified a suspect in the case. The complaint alleges that the unnamed rapist was an employee of KBR — which KBR denies — “working in either billeting or maintenance” at the Balad base. He is also referred to in the complaint as an “SCW,” or subcontract worker, meaning that he could have been a worker for a company doing contract work for KBR.
Christopher Grey, a spokesman for CID, confirmed that CID had conducted and completed a criminal investigation “into an alleged sexual assault that reportedly happened on 30 Nov. at the Balad base in Iraq.” He said he would not confirm names of sexual assault victims and would not confirm the identity of the victim in this alleged incident. Grey said CID had turned over the findings “to the appropriate commander and legal authorities for disposition.”
In the cases of Tracy Barker and Jamie Leigh Jones, KBR maintains that the available evidence does not support their claims of sexual assault. KBR’s Heather Browne told ABC News in an email in 2009 that “at no time has Ms. Barker’s claim of rape ever been confirmed.” KBR challenged the award to Tracy Barker and has asked that it be modified.
KBR has also challenged Jamie Leigh Jones’s version of events. “There are significant discrepancies between Ms. Jamie Leigh Jones’ claims against KBR and the facts pertaining to her allegations,” said the company in a statement. The statement said a KBR firefighter has reported having consensual sex with Jones on the night in question, but “is certain” no one else had sexual contact with Jones on that night.
Kelly said he does not believe KBR can assert no assault occurred in the Mayo case because of the photographic evidence and the Army’s investigation. “I don’t think there’s going to be any significant argument that she was not brutally raped.”
The lawsuit also names Halliburton, the contracting company that once owned KBR, as a defendant. At one time SEII, Mayo’s employer, was a subsidiary of Halliburton. A spokeswoman for Halliburton said that when Halliburton spun off KBR in 2007, SEII was a subsidiary of KBR, and there is no current corporate relationship between Halliburton and SEII. (click HERE for the original article)
A personal note to Anna:
I am so sorry this has happened to you. You are very brave to come forward and face the scrutiny and criticism that rape victims face. The media may have to call this an alleged rape and assault. But I’m not going to. There is nothing alleged about it! I pledge to do whatever I can to help you achieve justice. ~Ms Sparky
I want the name of that bastard and I won’t be happy until I see his head stick!! Let’s hope the criminal investigation on this one doesn’t get screwed up!
David Isenberg just published an awesome follow up article on this at the Huffington Post. You can read it at KBR Is Still Asking For It . Please comment.
Ms Sparky
Friday, June 4th 2010 at 8:53 am |
And you should have been there when I reported mine. Granted it was a month later when the guy came back a second time, but I was sent to the Kuwaities to get justice. Nothing happen.
Friday, June 4th 2010 at 8:56 am |
I’m sorry! KBR tries to come across as if these are isolated incidents and they are not!
Friday, June 4th 2010 at 10:19 am |
I am not defending KBR in this case, this is horrible and should not ever happen to any woman. KBR or SCW doesn’t matter, what matters is that the guilty be punished to the fullest extent of the law or his ba$$ cut off and shoved down his throat. There is never any justice in Kuwait as I lived there 2 years and it just doesn’t matter…Kuwaitis are pigs and should all be subjected to Naplam cleansing.
I’m done…I hope the young lady gets better and I hope that the guilty dies a horrible death
Friday, June 4th 2010 at 10:25 am |
I agree. It doesn’t matter who the person is that did this, he needs to be brought to justice. All perpetrators of these types crimes needs to be brought to swift justice and then slow execution! And I really mean that. I’m not just being snarky!
Friday, June 4th 2010 at 10:46 am |
I would like to see someone get justice. I don’t think any of us that have had to suffer this cruel horror so far have seen that. Mine is partly my own fault for not reporting it when it happened. But for others, there is no excuse for any contracting company to allow this to happen and not punish the person that did it.
Friday, June 4th 2010 at 1:04 pm |
Justice is the ultimate victory if there is to be victory for such a horrible event. I am sorry this happened to you and continue to fight ffor justice. Thank you Ms Sparky for the information I just wish you wouldnt have to report more events like this!
Justice4all
Friday, June 4th 2010 at 2:01 pm |
I’m not surprised this happened and I feel bad for this women. You know as well as I that KBR will try to prove she “enticed” this scumbag, or that these are “self inflicted” wounds and will somehow make her out to be the guilty party in this. I was at Q-West from 12/06 to 6/09 and even tho we did’nt have anything happen like this, on a daily basis I saw “waste, fraud and abuse” of the system to the point where the only thing that kept me going till the end was mentally telling myself I did’nt work for KBR, I worked for the military.
Makes me sick! When and if they get this guy, they should send him to an SF A-Camp and use his as an IED detector. Nuff said
Saturday, June 5th 2010 at 10:31 am |
Now – before any of you think differently – I would never think it is this young lady’s fault. Nor do I think it is KBR’s fault. If it was Dyn corp or Fluor, I would not think it was thier fault either, but I don’t know all the facts. Ultimate responsibility belongs to the rapist who should have his sack cut and shoved down his throat. I personally don’t think KBR or the other two contractors should be sued in this case, unless something really unjust or the lady’s case was mishandled. KBR ultimately is not to blame for the rape…the A$$hole that did it is.
Saturday, June 5th 2010 at 1:49 pm |
You are correct. The rapist is responsible for the rape. But KBR has a certain level of responsibility to maintain the safety of their camps and work sites for their employees. This person was reported as entering her room under the guise of a maintenance activity 3 days prior and wasn’t fired. Then there is the whole how did he get in? Sounds like there may be a key control issue. There are other points that I am positive will come out in the court room. I hope I can be there for this one!
Saturday, June 5th 2010 at 11:27 am |
If the person who assualted this helpless lady had been a soldier; would she sue this military? I don’t think so..
Saturday, June 5th 2010 at 1:54 pm |
Not unless the Military knew he was a rapist and allowed him to continue his tour. In any event she would still sue KBR. They are obligated to provide a safe living and working environment. Was there a key control issue?
Saturday, June 5th 2010 at 4:20 pm |
I don’t know if there was a key control issue there, but at Liberty the maintenance people had keys to the hooches and could enter anytime they were on duty.
I had one walk in while I was in the shower–twice. In addition I awoke one night when I was living in a tent with a bunch of guys surrounding my bed–maintenance crew at 10pm ?? Another time, one of these guys knocked once and walked right into my locked hooch while I was sleeping (I was on nights at the time).
Keys are controlled, but not nearly as adequately and responsibly as they should be.
Saturday, June 5th 2010 at 4:47 pm |
I’d sure like to talk to you more about that. You can email me by clicking on the Contact Us tab. It will be kept confidential.
Camp Hope in the Green Zone had a crew of Local National (Iraqi’s) that work cleaning the bathrooms in the trailers/hooches/CHU’s. It was optional whether or not you had them come in and clean your bathroom. I opted OUT. I didn’t want anyone in my room when I wasn’t there. This cleaning crew was “supervised” by a KBR expat. I think the keys were divided up by row. 2-4 cleaners were given a ring of keys and sent down a row to clean bathrooms and any trailers that someone had moved out of. The expat sat at the end of the rows so he could “keep and eye on them”. The expats were supposed to stay with them but they didn’t.
Sunday, June 6th 2010 at 8:18 am |
I know for a 100% fact that at Camp Hope there were 7 keys per hooch and if a key was lost housing would just duplicate another one but when I was in Speicher there were 7 keys as well but if a key was lost we would change the lock.
Sunday, June 6th 2010 at 10:13 am |
Thanks for that validation!! This is a classic example of the inconsistent implementation of KBR’s own rules and regulations across Theater!
Do you know who was contracting the armed Gurkhas at Camp Hope? Was it KBR or Department of State or was in “pro bono”?
Monday, June 7th 2010 at 6:59 am |
When I was at Camp Hope last year up until November when we were moving we had Triple Canopy at Hope and Sabre at Camp Travis but TC was the majority. If it was a DOS contract the TC guards were hired from Peru and if it was a DOD contract they hired from Uganda.
Tuesday, June 8th 2010 at 2:38 am |
I was told the defense has a witness that will blow the lid of this case…
Tuesday, June 8th 2010 at 7:23 am |
I emailed you about this. Can you email me and tell me what you heard?
Tuesday, June 8th 2010 at 7:29 am |
David Isenberg just published an awesome follow up article on this at the Huffington Post. You can read it at KBR Is Still Asking For It . Please comment.
Tuesday, June 8th 2010 at 2:26 pm |
Comment DELETED!
Tuesday, June 8th 2010 at 2:42 pm |
Do you think I would actually post that pathetic comment! What the hell is wrong with you. Did you not see the photos. A crime has been committed here. Your attempt to put out misinformation won’t get by me. You want to email me with your information you email me directly with a legitimate email address. For all I know you could be the rapist trying to divert attention from yourself!
Wednesday, June 9th 2010 at 12:11 am |
Key Control may not have a role in this.
If it was a Red Sea hooch, it would be easier to get into without a key. The Cori-Mecs are more secure. Both types are not claptraps, though. Even the Red Seas can’t be just popped open with a pocket knife or credit card.
I also think it should be made clear, either way…is the suspect a SUBCONTRACTOR “employee” of KBR, or an actual KBR (SEII, OAS, or KBRS) employee? While not material to the actual rape, it is very important when assessing KBR’s responsibility as to employee screening, physical security, etc.
Wednesday, June 9th 2010 at 9:09 am |
Yes, but regardless of who the rapist is, KBR has a responsibility to maintain the safe living and working environment for it’s employees. Did they do that? Did they promptly report the crime so an investigation could commence immediately? Did they do ANYTHING to impede the investigation?
I guess we will find out.
Wednesday, June 9th 2010 at 12:18 pm |
Hey, guys in Houston reading this:Stop hiring all your old Army drinking buddies!!!(they suck!!)….let accountabilty, responsibilty, and integrity be the mantra….not cronyism, passing the buck and bullying the weak-It is a HELL HOLE over there when you get there! try it yourselves sometime…
Monday, June 14th 2010 at 12:28 pm |
Word is that KBR’s Theater Security Director Kenly Nifong is threatening people AGAIN about talking to Ms Sparky and others. Threatening employees with liability and termination. Oh no….not that AGAIN! (yawn) KBR is so pathetic. One would thing Nifong would be actively trying to find out how Anna Mayo got raped considering it happened on HIS watch! Also you would think he would have his hands full with all the KBR/WSI investigations going on. Oooops! Was I not supposed to say anything? (just kidding
)
Kenly Nifong was the Manager of International Security and Fire Operations for Wackenhut Services, Incorporated (WSI), the Program Manager for Gulf Coast Operations for WSI (Katrina and Rita), and Manager International Business Development for WSI. He also was lead “proposal manager” in the development of WSI’s International Strategic Business Plan before coming over to KBR. One has to wonder what that was all about. I think if I were a competitor of WSI bidding against them and having lost on contracts awards for KBR I would be filing some sort of protest…I’m just saying….it is my humble opinion there something not quite kosher going on here.
Oh I have just volumes on Kenly Nifong and his minions. But that is a whole nuther post!
Monday, June 14th 2010 at 5:23 pm |
Nifong is a @ss wipe
Monday, June 14th 2010 at 7:50 pm |
Thought he was the top theater sec. mgr. for KBR?
Monday, June 14th 2010 at 9:02 pm |
Apparently the two are the same thing!
Friday, July 9th 2010 at 5:44 pm |
This whole case is a travesty. I just read the above post about the Security Director and can’t believe there isn’t more chatter on him. He’s an idiot and everyone knows it. They moved the DPM because he was so frustrated with the way the whole thing was being handled by Headquarters in Baghdad and was going to go to the press. We had people actually threatened with termination if they talked to KBR Security or CID. I hope Nifong is in the lawsuit.
Wednesday, July 14th 2010 at 6:54 am |
Info on?:
I would really like to speak with these threatened employees. Do you have more information that you can provide? Will you contact me directly? 713-255-2055.
Tuesday, August 17th 2010 at 5:31 pm |
I would like to thank everyone who had the courage to come forward, even under threat of termination to report names and other information on this case.
It has been very very quiet on this matter since I sent my reports to the DoDIG, CID, DOJ, CWC, several Congressional investigative committees, individual Senators and Representative who I thought would push through on an investigation.
I notice my traffic has increased exponentially in the last day or so from the State of Louisiana. Hmmmm
Maybe the investigation has started!
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 at 4:01 am |
Isn’t that where the Security guy who messed with the evidence from? Apparently some people ran a on-line background check on the guy and found out he’s a fraud. Take it for what it’s worth but, apparently the guy is quite obese (over BMI?)and he’s being kept around the LCIV contract because of his suspected involvement in the case; they can’t let him go even if they want to. They’re letting go more qualified people or transferring others to other bases but, they are keeping him on because of his ties to Nifong. Also, if he has a KBR Lawyer he won’t be compelled to speak to Ms. Mayo’s lawyer as much. This is all known by HQ
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 at 5:51 am |
Yes that’s the guy. Do you have any additional information on him tampering with the evidence? Anna’s attorney could sure use that. I’m not surprised he would be a fraud. KBR doesn’t check out the resumes for managers buddies. Just so we are clear, they found out John Rosato is a fraud, he doesn’t meet the BMI standards, he is suspected of evidence tampering and KBR is going to keep him on the payroll. Those kind of things really make me mad!
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 at 6:28 am |
That’s the word from HQ land. I saw a picture and from observation the truth (BMI); All they have to do is check out certIN security people hired by Nifong and you will see the pattern of incompetence. All wanna-be Paul Blarts (without the scooter); Word around HQ is Nifong is being checked out by CID for some other cover-ups invovling pornography. Handled it in house instead of reporting it to CID.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 at 6:51 am |
Evidently KBR Security is like a comedy act! I know the CID got my report on what was reported on Nifong, Rosato and others because I sent it to the investigator in the Anna Mayo rape directly as well as the Commanding General of the CID.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 at 6:54 am |
Was that child porn??
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 at 12:45 pm |
USMI – Please contact me. You seem to have first-hand information, and I would really like to pick your brain for a while. 713-255-2055
Thursday, September 2nd 2010 at 12:22 pm |
Someone from Iraq just sent me an anonymous email stating the Army CID has reopened (the once closed) criminal investigation into the alleged evidence tampering by KBR Security Officers in the Anna Mayo rape case.
Due to the fact I am not on the email distribution list for all the Army CID updates there is not way to confirm that.
What I can say it I sent my report to everyone I could think of including Army CID Commander Brigadier General Colleen L. McGuire.
I can only hope the Army CID has reopened this investigation. If the CID finds there was in fact evidence tampering, I hope they take it all the way to the top including Ron Allen and Kenly Nifong. I hope the DoJ actually files charges.
And most importantly, I hope this rapist that KBR let get away is found and extradited back to the US to stand trial for his crimes.
If anyone can confirm this reopened CID investigation let us know. And if you have information regarding this crime please come forward. I can help you get in touch with the CID and/or Anna’s attorney.
Thursday, November 11th 2010 at 7:27 pm |
I just want to say I am shocked and saddened as I read this. I knew Anna personally at one time. We were both in the Air Force. I was stationed on the same base with her. We only spoke briefly through mutual community activities, but she seemed like a sweet girl. My prayers and thoughts are with her at this time. I hope justice is done for her sake and peace of mind.
Sunday, May 29th 2011 at 8:32 am |
I just found out that this happened to Anna and seeing the photos and knowing that someone did this to her just breaks my heart. Anna and I were friends and stationed together. I hope the person who did this to her is brought to justice and I hope Anna can have some peace in her life. Anna, I am sorry this has happened to you and even though this happened awhile ago, you are in my prayers.