Former Director of Accounting Services for the State of Oregon Department of Education
(ODOE) Ordered to Serve 24 Months in Prison
Brent E. Crosson, of Salem, Embezzled $925,000 in Federal Grant Funds

Portland, Ore. – Brent Edward Crosson, 36, of Salem, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Garr M. King to serve 24 months in prison and three years of post-prison supervised release for embezzling $925,000 from the Oregon Department of Education. Crosson plead guilty to a charge of program fraud last April.

Crosson admitted that from June 2006 to June 2007, while employed as Director of Accounting Services for the State of Oregon Department of Education (ODOE), he stole $925,000 in United States Department of Education (USDOE) federal grant funds. Crosson used his knowledge of ODOE accounting processes to cause ODOE to issue payments to CGA Wholesale, which was a company controlled by Crosson. Crosson deposited the payments into accounts he controlled.

Investigators recovered $750,000 from Crosson’s accounts. These funds will be used for restitution to ODOE. Prosecutors also stated during the sentencing that Crosson has signed a power of attorney giving the ODOE the right to receive his share of the equity after sale of his former personal residence. Crosson also agreed to surrender a personal vehicle to the United States Marshal for sale with proceeds payable to the ODOE.

Crosson will surrender for service of his sentence on August 14, 2008.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oregon State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Caldwell.

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