AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885

OCTOBER 11, 2007

FORMER FREESTATE CHALLENGE ACADEMY EMPLOYEE SENTENCED FOR STEALING PROGRAM FUNDS

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Wanda O. Quarles, age 38, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, a former administrative aide at the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, today to three years of probation for theft from programs receiving federal funds, with the first five months to be served on home detention with electronic monitoring, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Motz also ordered Quarles to pay restitution of $34,750.07 to the Maryland Military Department.

“This case should serve as a warning to anyone who works for an organization that receives government grants,” announced U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “People who steal from programs that receive federal funds can be prosecuted in federal court.”

According to the plea agreement, Quarles, formerly Wanda O. Brumfield, was employed at Freestate ChalleNGe Academy (“FCA”) from April 2000 through February 2004. FCA is located at the Aberdeen Proving Ground and receives both state and federal funds. FCA’s mission is to assist at-risk adolescents to develop self-discipline and leadership skills. Quarles’ duties involved the admissions of cadets, as well as handling personnel and payroll matters.

When a former FCA drill instructor moved to South Carolina in the Spring of 2000, Quarles kept him on FCA’s payroll through February 2004, preparing time cards which purported to show that the former drill instructor was still working at FCA and receiving FCA pay checks. Quarles then deposited the checks either into the former drill instructor’s bank account or into her own bank account. Through this scheme, Quarles caused FCA to issue approximately 100 paychecks with a total payroll cost of $86,703.32.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Biran, who is prosecuting the case.