Washington State Company Pleads Guilty To Making A False Statement Involving A Federal Grant

CONTACT:  Barbara Burns
PHONE:      (716) 843-5817
FAX #:         (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that National Technology Development, L.L.C. (NTD) pleaded guilty, before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford, to making a false statement. The judge then sentenced NTD to forfeit $500,000. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany H. Lee and Grace M. Carducci, who handled the case, stated that on May 12, 2008, National Technology Development (NTD) provided a letter of support to United Environmental & Energy, L.L.C. (UEE) which is located in the Western District of New York. The letter of support, which was part of a grant application UEE submitted to the National Science Foundation, committed that NTD would provide a total of $100,000 to UEE in cost matching funds, when in truth and in fact, NTD actually provided only $55,000. The letter of support was a factor in the National Science Foundation's consideration of the grant application submitted by UEE.

The plea and sentencing are the result of a joint investigation by Special Agents with the National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Inspector General Allison Lerner; the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Principal Deputy Inspector General April G. Stephenson; and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James D. Robnett, New York Field Office.