Fairmont, WV man convicted of stealing government money

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Former United States Forest Service employee Kwaku A. Akomah, 41, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was convicted today in federal court of stealing government money, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.

A Forest Service investigation revealed that Akomah made repeated unauthorized purchases using government funds. He made a variety of unauthorized personal purchases, including the use of a government issued fuel card to procure more than $1,000.00 in gasoline for his personal vehicle.

Akomah pled guilty today to one count of “Theft of Government Money.” He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull presided.