Federal Employee Charged With Defrauding U.S. Government Of More Than $1 Million

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that James Montoya, 54, of Lakewood, was indicted by a federal grand jury on eight counts of wire fraud.

According to the indictment, Montoya worked as a federal employee at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) office in Lakewood, Colorado.  USGS is part of the United States Department of the Interior (DOI).  During a routine initiative to identify misuse, DOI identified numerous questionable transactions on Montoya’s government charge card. The indictment alleges that Montoya concealed these improper purchases by altering documents to indicate these purchases were for work-related items. The alleged actions defrauded the government of approximately $1,223,009.42 over approximately fifteen years beginning around December of 2008 and continuing through at least November 2023.

The defendant made his initial appearance in Denver on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, in front of Magistrate Judge Susan Prose.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent of the charges unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Sonia Dave.

Case Number: 24-cr-248-PAB