[JURIST] Former CIA executive director Kyle "Dusty" Foggo [Wikipedia profile] and defense contractor Brent Wilkes [Newsweek profile] both pleaded not guilty Wednesday to corruption charges connected with the case of former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham [official profile]. Both Foggo and Wilkes, who were indicted by a grand jury [JURIST report] Tuesday, have been under investigation by the FBI since May, after Cunningham pleaded guilty in 2005 [JURIST report] to taking $2.4 million in bribes from Wilkes and others in return for federal contracts. Tuesday's indictment included charges of money laundering and fraud, as well as conspiracy between Wilkes and John T. Michael, nephew of New York businessman Thomas Kontogiannis [San Diego Union Tribune report], to bribe Cunningham. Wilkes is also alleged to have received $12 million in unlawful government contracts for his company ADCS [corporate website].

Foggo directed the daily operations of the CIA from 2004 until May 2006 after working with the agency for 25 years. While Foggo maintains his innocence in the bribery scandal, he admitted to attending card games at hotels allegedly provided to Cunningham by Wilkes. Both Foggo and Wilkes face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of all charges. AP has more. The San Diego Union Tribune has local coverage.