LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Teresa Gulotta-Powers, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General, Department of Justice, Miami Field Office, and Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Office, announced today the indictment of a former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) employee. Defendant Ronald Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 6, 2006, with multiple counts of theft of government money in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641; and making false, fictitious, and fraudulent claims, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 287. If convicted, the defendant faces maximum statutory penalties of 10 years’ imprisonment as to each felony count of theft of government money, and maximum statutory penalties of 5 years’ imprisonment as to each count of making false, fictitious and fraudulent claims.
According to the Indictment, from October 2003 to March 2004, Johnson submitted numerous expense vouchers to the DEA for various career fair expenses. The DEA paid Johnson for the expenses he claimed, which claims and expenses were fraudulent. Based on Johnson’s reimbursement claims, DEA paid Johnson $13,405 for career fair expenses that he was not entitled to receive.
“The Drug Enforcement Administration will continue to cooperate with the Office of the Inspector General in any way necessary to aid in this investigation,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville. “DEA is an agency of over 10,000 committed, loyal employees. We are therefore eager to see this case brought to justice in order to preserve the integrity and reputation of our outstanding workforce.”
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Office of Inspector General, Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Professional Responsibility. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Osborne of the Major Crimes Section.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on .
