A U.S. Army sergeant who oversaw dining facilities at two military bases in Kuwait pleaded guilty Wednesday to accepting $1.4 million in "illegal gratuities" from private contractors.

Ray Scott Chase, 42, also pleaded guilty in an appearance before an Illinois court to hiding the money upon his return to the United States and lying to federal investigators in 2007, Illinois prosecutors said.

In a statement, the Justice Department said Chase "supervised the food procurement, preparation and service operations at Camp Doha and Camp Arifjan" in Kuwait in 2002 and 2003.

He "also coordinated orders for certain blanket purchase agreements the U.S. Army had with various private contractors to provide supplies to services to both of those dining facilities," the department added.

In a statement, the Justice Department said Chase admitted receiving approximately $1.4 million from contractors that included Tamimi Global Company Limited, LaNouvelle General Trading and Contracting Corporation, and another unnamed company.

Prosecutors did not specify what Chase provided in return for the money.

He will be sentenced Aug. 6 and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He has also agreed to forfeit all assets related to the money he received in bribes.