United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR IMPERSONATING
A HIGH RANKING FEDERAL EMPLOYEE

AMARILLO, Texas – A man who pretended to be a high ranking federal employee engaged in setting up a federal program in Amarillo, Christopher Wayne Ralston, 36, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to 12 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Ralston, who pled guilty in August to one count of false impersonation of a federal employee, was also ordered to pay $19,200 restitution. Judge Robinson remanded him to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

According to documents filed in Court, from April to August 2006, Ralston pretended to be Director of Operations at the Department of Justice (DOJ), charged with establishing a federal program in Amarillo. During the course of his scheme, Ralston represented to former co-workers, friends, a real estate agent and a builder that he was in direct contact with the President and the Attorney General of the United States. He used the services of a Realtor, Bree Oden, to help him, and his prospective employees find homes and office space in the area. He and his prospective employees also “test drove” vehicles.

As part of his scheme, Ralston had13 people complete the Standard Form-86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions, which includes extensive personal information. He pretended to have phone conversations with high-ranking government officials, and sent emails to himself and others to make it appear his scheme was legitimate. An individual who was offered a high-level government position by Ralston incurred travel and entertainment expenses because she relied on Ralston’s false impersonation.

Ralston represented to a home builder, Jeb May, that he was a high-level DOJ employee who would purchase a home in Amarillo with a $320,000 wire transfer from DOJ. Because of that representation, the builder completed the home as to Ralston’s personal tastes.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy L. Drake of the Amarillo, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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