Kevin Mabone, Stealing Government Fuel Funds, Charleston WV, 2023

Kevin Mabone, 56, of Texas — formerly based in Charleston, West Virginia — has pleaded guilty to stealing thousands in government funds through unauthorized fuel purchases, striking a direct blow to federal trust and taxpayer integrity. The ex-employee of the Charleston Job Corps Center admitted to a years-long scheme that spanned multiple states and exploited public resources meant for at-risk youth.

On Monday, Mabone entered his guilty plea to misappropriating government funds, a charge brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office after a joint investigation by the General Services Administration Inspector General and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General. From 2014 to 2015, while serving as director of social development at the Charleston Job Corps Center, Mabone used government-issued credit cards to repeatedly fuel his personal vehicle — a brazen misuse of authority and taxpayer dollars.

But the theft didn’t start in West Virginia. Mabone admitted that from 2007 through 2012, while working at the Miami Job Corps Center in Florida, he engaged in the exact same criminal conduct — siphoning government funds to pay for personal gasoline. Over the combined period, the total stolen reached at least $6,684.40. That amount, Mabone has agreed, will be repaid in full as restitution.

“Stealing from the government is a serious crime that carries major consequences,” said United States Attorney Carol Casto. “I commend the work of the investigators to uncover this fraud and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to prosecute these important cases.” Her statement underscored the federal crackdown on internal corruption within taxpayer-funded programs.

Both oversight agencies emphasized the broader damage: funds stolen by Mabone were meant to support youth job training initiatives — not line the pockets of administrators. “Mabone’s fraudulent abuse of Job Corps credit cards for personal purposes improperly took needed funds away from valuable youth programs at these centers,” said Richard Deer, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Labor’s Philadelphia Regional Office. Carol Fortine Ochoa, GSA Inspector General, added: “I appreciate the skilled work of the special agents who brought this gas card thief to justice.”

Mabone now faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 at his sentencing hearing scheduled for January 24, 2017. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gabriele Wohl and heard before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. The investigation laid bare how even modest fraud can erode public programs — one gas tank at a time.