Former Contract GAO Technology Worker Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Steal and Re-sell Government Laptop Computers

WASHINGTON - Darryl Roger Lyles, 37, a resident of Capitol Heights, Maryland, has pled guilty to stealing laptop computers and other information technology equipment from the Government Accountability Office, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Irvine, and Alexandria Chief of Police David P. Baker announced today.

Lyles pleaded guilty earlier today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before the Honorable Reggie B. Walton to Count I of a multi-count Indictment, charging Theft of Government Property. In pleading guilty, Lyles admitted that between June 2006 and December 14, 2007, he stole at least 89 laptop computers and one projector from GAO with an approximate value of $175,000. The government has agreed to dismiss the remaining counts of the Indictment after Lyles is sentenced.

Lyles is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24, 2009. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, an order of restitution and a fine of $350,000. Under the advisory federal sentencing guidelines, he faces a likely sentencing range of 18-24 months of imprisonment.

According to the factual proffer provided to the Court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan B. Menzer, Lyles stole the government property while working for a GAO sub-contractor, RGB Technology, as an information technology analyst. Although he was employed by RGB, Lyles had access to GAO's facilities as if he was directly employed by GAO. Part of his job assignments included assisting with the issuance and retrieval of computers to and from GAO employees.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Menzer further explained that Lyles attempted to sell some of the stolen GAO equipment through Craigslist, a website where any person who has an e-mail account can post on-line classified advertisements offering goods or services for sale. In fact, on at least ten occasions, Lyles posted advertisements on Craigslist from a computer located inside GAO's Washington, D.C. headquarters. One of the individuals Lyles met through Craigslist became a regular customer. He purchased the stolen projector and at least 83 of the stolen computers from Lyles. This individual then re-sold most of the stolen GAO property on the on-line auction site E-bay.

In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Taylor, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Irvine and Alexandria Chief of Police Baker commended the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents Ellen J. Ripperger and Duane A. Smith of the U.S. Secret Service; Detective Charlie Pak of the City of Alexandria, Virginia Police Department; Inspector Garrett P. Loughlin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Special Agent Marty Lewis of the GAO Office of Security. They also thanked the GAO for the assistance and cooperation it provided to the investigation. Lastly, they praised the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan B. Menzer and John W. Borchert, who are prosecuting the case.