FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TUESDAY - October 21, 2008

FORMER PRISON EMPLOYEE PLEADS TO EMBEZZLING FEDERAL FUNDS

ELIZABETH CITY - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today JOYCE HAYES CROSS, 44, of Creedmoor, North Carolina, entered her guilty plea before United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle.

A Criminal Information was filed on October 1, 2008 charging CROSS with embezzlement and theft of public money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. From October, 2007, to March, 2008, CROSS, a former employee at the Federal Correctional Institute - Butner, embezzled approximately $15,000 in public funds.

“It is disappointing when those that have been placed in a position of trust betray that trust. Those that steal government monies will be prosecuted accordingly,” commented U.S. Attorney Holding.

The maximum penalty for embezzling public monies is 10 years imprisonment followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Justice. Assistant United States Attorney Jason Cowley served as prosecutor for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.