NSA Contractor Pleads Guilty To Submitting False Timesheets

Baltimore, Maryland – Lynette C. Jackson, age 33, of Hanover, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to making false claims to the government, in connection with her work as a contractor at the National Security Agency (NSA).

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Robert Craig of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and the National Security Agency, Office of Inspector General.

According to Jackson’s plea agreement, beginning in 2008, she was hired by a DoD subcontractor, Merito, Incorporated as a full time employee to perform work on a specific contract at NSA. Jackson’s primary duty station was within NSA Headquarters and her salary from Merito was approximately $97,000. Merito billed the federal government $95.45 per hour for her services. Jackson was required to submit a timesheet every week to both Merito and the primary contractor, detailing the number of hours she worked in support of the contract. Jackson’s paychecks from Merito were based upon the number of hours she claimed to work.

Jackson admitted that from September 2010 through June 2011, she worked full time for Sentel Corporation, another DoD contractor, at the same time that she claimed to be working full time for Merito. During this time, Jackson billed Merito for full time hours when she actually was only working for Sentel. In all, Jackson submitted 79 fraudulent timesheets to Merito, falsely claiming to have worked 683.75 hours, causing a total loss to the government of $65,264.55.

Jackson faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. scheduled Jackson’s sentencing for September 3, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.

The National Procurement Fraud Task Force was formed in October 2006 to promote the early detection, identification, prevention and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs. The Procurement Fraud Task Force includes the United States Attorneys’ Offices, the FBI, the U.S. Inspectors General community and a number of other federal law enforcement agencies. This case, as well as other cases brought by members of the Task Force, demonstrates the Department of Justice=s commitment to helping ensure the integrity of the government procurement process.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the DCIS and NSA, Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein praised Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Bockin, who is prosecuting the case.