John Samuel Jarvis Sentenced in U.S. District Court
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula, on July 30, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, JOHN SAMUEL JARVIS, a 30-year-old resident of Polson, appeared for sentencing. JARVIS was sentenced to a term of:
- Probation: 5 years
- Special Assessment: $100
- Restitution: $4,343.57
JARVIS was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to theft of federal government money.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
From January to July 2008, JARVIS was employed by Mission Valley Auto in Polson. During this time, JARVIS fraudulently used government credit cards that he obtained from government vehicles that had been dropped off at Mission Valley Auto for service.
Although the access device is referred to here as a "credit card," based on the common understanding of the term, it actually serves as a claim against the United States in which the vendor is paid directly by the GSA based upon the use of the device. It is intended only for use by government employees to fuel government vehicles being used in the course of government business.
When government vehicles were turned in to Mission Valley Auto for repairs, the government credit cards were left with the keys. JARVIS took the cards and used them to purchase gas while the vehicle was being repaired and returned the cards before the vehicles left the shop. In all, JARVIS used six credit cards for a total of 72 transactions, totaling $4,383.57.
On July 31, 2008, when interviewed, JARVIS admitted taking the cards and using them for personal gas purchases. At the conclusion of the interview, he retrieved the card he was currently using from his personal vehicle.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that JARVIS will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, JARVIS does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the General Services Administration - Office of Inspector General.
