Former Director of Accounting Services at Oregon Department of Education Admits Stealing $925,000

Government Investigators Recover $750,000

Portland, Ore. - Brent Edward Crosson, 36, of Salem, Oregon today admitted stealing $925,000 from the Oregon Department of Education (ODOE) between June 2006 and June 2007. Crosson appeared before United States District Judge Garr M. King and pled guilty to a felony information charging one count of program fraud involving the theft of the $925,000. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Crosson admitted that between June 2006 and June 2007, while employed as Director of Accounting Services for the ODOE, he used his knowledge of ODOE accounting processes to cause ODOE to issue payments to a company called CGA Wholesale, an entity which Crosson controlled. The funds used for such payments were grant funds from the United States Department of Education which had been transferred to the custody of ODOE. Crosson then deposited these ODOE payments into accounts in the name of CGA Wholesale and transferred funds from the CGA Wholesale accounts into various personal accounts from which he made purchases and paid personal expenses.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Oregon State Police. Investigators traced the funds into accounts controlled by Crosson and have recovered a total of $750,000 which will be paid as restitution to the ODOE after sentencing.

Crosson remains out of custody pending the sentencing hearing on June 17, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Caldwell.