PORTLAND, Ore. — The grimy halls of justice echo with the sentence of Pamela J. Kahut, 68, of Wilsonville, Oregon. Today, the former Chief Financial Officer was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for her brazen theft from the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) health benefit trust account.
As the CFO of PSMFC—an interstate agency tasked with managing Pacific Ocean fishery resources—Kahut had a golden key to the health benefit trust account. But instead of safeguarding it, she siphoned $211,083.27 between October 2014 and September 2020.
The funds were used to cover her spouse’s long-term care premiums, pay off her pension loans, and settle personal credit card bills. The scheme was exposed on April 8, 2025, when Kahut faced charges of Theft in Connection with Health Care. By June 5, 2025, the defendant had pleaded guilty.
“Kahut’s actions not only defrauded PSMFC but also sapped federal grant money intended for the betterment of fishery resources,” said Robert Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, who prosecuted the case. “Her sentence is a stark reminder that such crimes will be met with severe punishment.”
Investigating agencies included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General. Alongside her prison term, Kahut was ordered to pay $211,083.27 in restitution to PSMFC and a $10,000 fine.
This case is a stark reminder that even those at the helm can fall from grace when ethics are compromised. The grimy truth of Kahut’s downfall serves as a cautionary tale for all who hold positions of trust.”
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Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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