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 NOAA Grantee Sentenced for Misusing Funds

January 20, 2009
 
A NOAA grantee pled guilty on charges of violating 18 USC ยง 666, prohibiting theft concerning federal programs. The employee misappropriated NOAA funds on multiple occasions in May 2006, when he withdrew a total of $60,000 from a $109,886 grant to buy, among other things, methamphetamines and a Rolex watch. The one-year grant had been awarded for the purpose of developing a small boat tuna pole and line training program to train 40 native Hawaiian people in fishing techniques. On January 20, 2009, the individual was sentenced to a year plus one day of incarceration in federal prison, followed by three years' supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution for the full amount of $60,000.00 and pay a special assessment of $100.00.