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Press Release

Former U.S. Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty To Theft Of Government Property

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

     The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a former correctional officer at the United States Penitentiary-Lewisburg pleaded guilty today to a charge of theft of government property in federal court in Williamsport before U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner.

     According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, a criminal Information was filed in January 2013 charging Fred Hagenbuch, age 52, of Danville, Pennsylvania, with theft of government property. The property stolen was from the Federal Correctional Complex at Allenwood and included electrical conduit, fence post, and mesh fencing valued at approximately $1,545.  At the time of the theft in December 2010, Hagenbuch was employed as a Senior Officer Specialist at the Lewisburg Penitentiary.

     This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Simmers.

     A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

     In this particular case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is 10 years' imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

Updated April 9, 2015