OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS CLOSEOUT MEMORANDUM We received information that a part-time accounting assistant' (subject) at a grantee institution2 embezzled approximately $130,000 in non-federal hnds. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office filed a complaint against the subject consisting of 18 feldhy counnf s: 6 counts of grand theft and 12 counts of forgery. The subject pled guilty td and wbs convicted of all charges. She was sentenced to 5 years probation, 361 days in jail (with credit for time served), and restitution of $238,240.33 plus 10% interest per year. Based on an OIG recommendation, NSF debarred the subject for a period of three years, effective 29 June 2006-29 June 2009.~ Accordingly, this case is closed. See Attachment 1 (Final Debarment Notice) NSF OIG Form 2 (1 1/02) 4 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 4201 WILSON BOULEVARD ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22230 / OFFICE O F M E D E P U M DIRECTOR CERTIFIED MAIL --RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Betsy Demay Re: Debarment Dear Ms. Demay: , On June 29,2006, the National Science Foundation ("NSF") sent you a Notice of Proposed Debarment in which NSF proposed to debar you fiom directly or indirectly obtaining the benefits giving rise to NSF's decision to propose your debarment. Specifically, NSF indicatedlin the Notice that the proposed debarment is based upon your convictions on eighteen felony counts of I of Federal grants for a period of three years. The Notice sets forth in detail the circudstances I grand theft and forgery over a two-year period. In that Notice, NSF provided you witd thirty dlys to respond to the proposed debarment. Over thirty days have elapsed and NSF has not received a response. Accordingly, you are debarred until June 29,2009. Debarment precludes you from receiving Federal financial and non-financial assistance and benefits under non-procurement Federal programs and activities unless an agency head or authorized designee makes a determination to grant an exception in accordance with 45 CFR Section 620.215. Non-procurement transactions include grants, cooperative agreements, scholarships, fellowships, contracts of assistance, loans, loan guarantees, subsidies, insurance, payments for specified use, and donation agreements. In addition, you are prohibited fiom receiving Federal contracts or approved subcoiltracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulations ("FAR) at 48 CFR Subpart 9.4 for the period ofkhis debarment. 45 CFR Section 620.1 10(c). During the debarment period, you may not dave supervisory responsibility, primary management, substantive control over, or critical a on, gant, contract, or cooperative agreement with any agency of the Executive Branbh of the' Federal Government. If you have any questions regarding the foregoing, please contact Eric Gold, Assistant General Counsel, National Science Foundation, Office of the General Counsel, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, I1 1 Room 1265, Arlington, Virginia, 22230. Sincerely, Kathie L. Olsen Deputy Director
Grant Fraud
Published by the National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General on 2006-09-29.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)