UNITED STATES ATTORNEY ALICE H. MARTIN NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			CONTACT: KAREN NARAMORE
	APRIL 1, 2009			PHONE: (205) 244-2001
	www.usdoj.gov/usao/aln			FAX: (205) 244-2171

MISSISSIPPI MAN INDICTED FOR FRAUDULENTLY USING GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARD

            BIRMINGHAM, AL - LARRY J. MOORE, 39, from Gautier, Mississippi, has been indicted by a federal grand jury today in Birmingham.  United States Attorney Alice H. Martin of the Northern District of Alabama and Scott Berenberg, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Department of Commerce (“USDOC”), Office of Inspector General, announce that  MOORE has been indicted on eight charges of Wire Fraud and one charge of Theft of Government Funds.

            The indictment charges that MOORE, then a USDOC employee with rightful access to a government credit card for work-related expenses, used and attempted to use that credit card for personal expenses between December 2006 and November 2008.  According to the indictment, MOORE attempted to make over $25,000 in personal charges on his government credit card and was successful in making, and causing USDOC to pay for, more than $18,000 of those charges.

            “The Government will not condone its employees using employer-paid credit cards for personal expenses.  This office will aggressively prosecute such thefts by government employees,” stated U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.

            USDOC Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Scott Berenberg stated, “I want to thank the Department of Justice, and in particular the Office of the Northern District of Alabama for their attention to this case impacting the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce has highly dedicated, hardworking employees.  When faced with a situation where one of those employees fails to live up to their obligation as a member of the Federal workforce and to maintain a level of integrity necessary to preserve the public’s trust, the Office of Inspector General will work vigilantly to insure that there is full accountability.”

            Upon conviction, MOORE faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ incarceration and a fine of $250,000 for each count of Wire Fraud and a sentence of 10 years in custody and a fine of $250,000 for Theft of Government Funds.  If convicted of wire fraud, MOORE could be ordered to forfeit the proceeds of his alleged crimes.

            This case was investigated by Special Agents of the United States Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General.  Assistant United States Attorney Melissa K. Atwood is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

            Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

###