Former Iowa Workforce Development Deputy Director Sentenced on Obstruction Charges
Des Moines, IA - On December 22, 2008, Jane Barto, 54, of Carroll, Iowa, and the former Deputy Director for the Iowa Workforce Development agency, was sentenced to a term of 36 months probation in connection with a conviction for obstruction of an inquiry or investigation of a matter under the regulations of the Workforce Investment Act, announced United States Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker. On April 24, 2008, Ms. Barto was convicted following a jury trial of obstructing an investigation into the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium (CIETC) fraud case. Ms. Barto was convicted for obstructing the investigation into allegations of excessive compensation to CIETC executive staff. Three members of CIETC’s executive staff have previously been convicted of conspiracy and misapplication of funds related to those charges.
In addition to the term of probation, United States District Court Chief Judge Robert Pratt ordered Barto to pay a $10,000 fine as well as being ordered to pay a $25 special assessment to the Crime Victim Fund.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the State of Iowa’s Department of Criminal Investigations. This case was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.