Government Employee And Government Contractor Enter Guilty Pleas To Stealing Over $150,000 From MacDill Air Force Base’s Intramural Program

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Keith Pilawski (63, Lutz) and Edwin Ortiz (58, Brandon) have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Pilawski and Ortiz each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. As part of their plea agreements, Pilawski has agreed to forfeit $67,183, and Ortiz has agreed to forfeit $163,300, the proceeds of criminal conduct. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreements, from 2009 until 2024, while Pilawski was employed as the intramural sports director for MacDill Air Force Base, he and Ortiz participated in a scheme to defraud MacDill’s intramural sports program. Instead of selecting the least expensive contractor, Pilawski steered all officiating duties to Ortiz’s company, and scheduled games around Ortiz’s schedule. Additionally, Pilawski authorized payments to Ortiz for services that were not covered under the contract and at times not even performed. Ortiz then kicked back a portion of the overpayments to Pilawski.

This case was investigated by Air Force Office of Special Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.