Environmental Contractor Sentenced To Probation With Home Detention For Defrauding The Navy

PITTSBURGH - A Washington County resident has been sentenced in federal court to three years of probation, with the first 12 months to served on home detention, on his conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Terrence F. McVerry imposed the sentence on Barry Kent Peterson, 48, of Canonsburg, Pa.

According to information presented to the court, Peterson was the Vice President of Fullard Environmental Controls ("FEC") in Ford City, and that FEC performed demolition services in 2007 for the United States Department of the Navy in Beaufort, South Carolina. Peterson, along with another person employed at FEC, defrauded the government by submitting false information to the Department of the Navy regarding the costs that were incurred by FEC to perform the demolition services. Peterson, through FEC, defrauded the government in the amount of approximately $772,701.10. As part of the sentence, Judge McVerry ordered Peterson to forfeit $772,701.10 to the United States government.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge McVerry stated that the sentence of probation, rather than a sentence of imprisonment was due, in part, to Peterson’s extraordinary family hardships relating to the medical conditions of two of Peterson’s children.

Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General and Naval Criminal Investigative Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Peterson.