WASHINGTON – A former U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) employee who falsified overtime records pleaded guilty today to one count of theft of more than $90,000 through a time and attendance fraud scheme, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division.
According to court documents, Violet Williams, 44, was employed by DOE as a timekeeper. In her position as timekeeper, Williams entered the hours worked by DOE employees into the DOE payroll system, which then would be certified by supervisors before the employee could be paid for the hours worked. As a timekeeper, Williams also was able to enter her own hours directly into the DOE payroll system, which also then would be certified by a supervisor.
Williams admitted that between 2004 and 2007 she submitted false and fraudulent time and attendance records for approximately 2,415 overtime hours that she did not work. As a result of these falsified overtime hours, Williams received approximately $94,494 in compensation to which she was not entitled.
The charge to which Williams pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2009.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ethan H. Levisohn of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, which is headed by William M. Welch II. The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Energy.
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