NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
4201 WILSON BOULEVARD
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22230
OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL
MEMORANDUM
Date: April 3,1998
To:
Via:
Re : Case Resolution
Background
On April 14, 1997, NSFOIG received an internal audit report from University o
NSF grant
According to the audit repor
Energy (DOE) funde
commercial bank account to
Specifically, the audit report identified that, in early 1996 approximately
$6,000 ($2,000 on January 9, 1996 and $4,000 on March 2 from the unauthorized bank
#
account. Then, on-four separate occasions (June 3, 1996, July 20, 1996, September 6, 1996, and
September 18, 1996), wrote herself $11,600 worth of checks from this account by forging
signature. was dismissed in January 1997, and reimbursed $18,600.
Investigation
checks, and reviewed other
NSFOIG interviewers obtained a signed affidavit fro-
dmitted to writing herself forging- name. Also, th
a
In the
We obtained copies of all of the questione
I
We identified sever ade misrepresentations in
US-IE forms, 5s) 'and charged alcohol
expenses related r -also inflated
guest attendance nt for meal expenses that
exceeded the ap ns may have resulted in
$10,816 in questionable costs, and this issue has been referred to t h e m f f i c e of Internal
Audit for resolution. In addition, we have referred this issue to the DOE'S Office of Inspector
I General. That office is now reviewin-OE-related travel expenses for possible fraud.
Referral and Case Resolution
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On September 23, 1997, we referred this matter to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern
District of California, recommending that they pursue criminal action
While the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to take action agains
w e d a n d was summoned to court on December 10, 1997.
and Assistant . . Attorney C. entered an agreement for pretrial diversion of this
matter. The terms of the t h a e m a i n on supervised probation for
18 months, obtain psychological counseling, and perform 200 hours of community service.
s h o u 1 d i l ) v l o l a t e this probation, she will be liable for her actions which led to the pretrial
diversion and the act which violated her probation.
In addition, after reviewing the NSFOIG analysis of Form 5s submitted by
reimbursed the NSF grant $7,365 for unallowable alcohol and
Due to lack of evidence to suggest other criminal or civil violations by - o w h e r
investigation by NSFOIG is not warranted at this time. This case is closed.
Grant Fraud
Published by the National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General on 1998-04-03.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)