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Press Release

Fairmont, WV Man Charged With Stealing Government Money

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of West Virginia


1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Tara Tighe, Public Affairs Specialist

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging former United States Forest Service employee Kwaku A. Akomah, 40, of Fairmont, West Virginia, with stealing government money, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.

A Forest Service investigation revealed that Akomah made repeated unauthorized purchases using government funds. He made a variety of unauthorized personal purchases, including the use of a government issued fuel card to procure more than $1,000.00 in gasoline for his personal vehicle.

Akomah is charged with two counts of “Theft of Government Money.” He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00 on each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Updated January 7, 2015