Kim M. Costello, Embezzlement, Pennsylvania 2015

Former DEA Employee Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement in Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA - In a shocking case of government corruption, Kim M. Costello, 55, of Harrisburg, PA, pleaded guilty to embezzlement of government funds on January 22, 2015. The former DEA employee was accused of stealing $2,079 in government funds from the DEA's Harrisburg Resident Office.

According to court documents, Costello was the impress funds manager for the DEA's Harrisburg Resident Office in September 2012 when she committed the crime. The embezzlement was discovered during an investigation by the DOJ Office of Inspector General New Jersey Area Office.

The case is being prosecuted in the Middle District of Pennsylvania by Assistant United States Attorney Kishan Nair, from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo will schedule a sentencing hearing at a future date.

Costello faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and a fine of up to $250,000. The court will determine the final sentence at the upcoming hearing.

The embezzlement of government funds is a serious crime that undermines the trust of the public in our institutions. We hope that this case will serve as a warning to others who would seek to take advantage of their positions for personal gain.

Costello's guilty plea is a significant step towards justice in this case. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the public and hold accountable those who would seek to commit crimes against the government.

The case is a reminder that government corruption will not be tolerated. We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who would seek to embezzle government funds or engage in other forms of corruption.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/former-dea-employee-pleads-guilty-embezzlement