WASHINGTON - Charles E. Ingram, 46, a former Smithsonian Institution Museum security guard, was sentenced today by the Honorable Ellen Segal Huvelle, U.S. District Court Judge, to 6 months in a half-way house, 5 years of probation, and restitution of $87,151.22 payable to the U.S. Department of Labor. The sentence arises in connection with Ingram's earlier guilty plea to the crime of False Statement to Obtain Federal Compensation, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor, U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") Inspector General Gordon S. Heddell, and Smithsonian Institution Inspector General A. Sprightley Ryan, announced today.

According to information provided to the court, Ingram had been employed as a museum protection officer by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. In May 2001, Ingram reported an on-the-job injury. Based upon the records he submitted the injury rendered him disabled. Because of his disability, in September 2001, Ingram began receiving compensation benefits from DOL's Office of Worker's Compensation Programs. To continue to receive these benefits, Ingram was required to annually submit forms certifying that he was unable to work. Beginning in November 2003, and continuing through February 2008, Ingram submitted forms on five occasions in which he failed to disclose that he was able to work and that he had in fact been employed as an armed security guard for private security firms. As a result of his conduct, Ingram wrongfully received $87,151.22 in disability benefits to which he was not entitled.

In announcing today's sentence, U.S. Attorney Taylor, DOL Inspector General Heddell and Smithsonian Institution Inspector General Ryan praised the work of Special Agents David Fargnoli of the DOL Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations and Michael Pickett of the Smithsonian Institution Office of the Inspector General, who investigated this matter. They also praised the work of staff of the U.S. Attorney's Office, including Legal Assistant Lisa Robinson, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri L. Schornstein and Ronald W. Sharpe, who prosecuted the case.