FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
February 3, 2012	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 2:10-cr-211 GEB

            SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that John Smithson, 30, of Atlanta, was convicted Thursday of conspiring to defraud the government. The guilty verdict was returned by a federal court jury in Sacramento after a three day trial before United States District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr.

            According to testimony presented at trial, Terry Roberson was an employee of the United States Forest Service in Vallejo, Calif. During the course of her duties, Roberson was issued government convenience checks for official use. Between January 24, 2005 and October 11, 2007, Roberson stole over $250,000 from the Forest Service by writing convenience checks to herself, her family, and her friends for their personal use. Smithson was an intern at the Forest Service in the Fall of 2005 and received approximately $20,000 from Roberson. Smithson received checks both in his own name and in the names of others he recruited to receive checks. 

            Thirteen individuals previously pleaded guilty before Judges Burrell and Frank C. Damrell Jr., including Roberson.

            This case is the product of an investigation by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Lapham and Jared Dolan prosecuted the case.

            Smithson is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Burrell on April 27, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.

            The maximum statutory penalty for a violation of Conspiracy to Defraud the Government is ten years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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