Ngozi T. Pole, Wire Fraud, Washington 2011

A federal jury has found Ngozi T. Pole, 40, a former office manager in the U.S. Senate, guilty of five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government property, according to a verdict announced on [date].

Pole, of Waldorf, Md., worked as the office manager for former U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy from 2003 to 2007. His responsibilities included transmitting salary information to the Senate Disbursing Office to adjust the pay of employees in the senator’s office.

However, evidence presented during the trial revealed that Pole repeatedly submitted paperwork causing the Senate to pay him larger bonus payments than had been approved by either the chief of staff or Senator Kennedy. These unauthorized bonus payments totaled more than $75,000.

Pole hid the existence of these unauthorized payments by transmitting information to the chief of staff that falsely showed that he received only those payments that had been authorized.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division stated, ‘Today, a federal jury found Mr. Pole guilty of using his position as a Congressional staffer to steal more than $75,000 of government money.’

Assistant Director James W. McJunkin of the FBI’s Washington Field Office added, ‘The public trusts that those in government service will obey the law and protect the interests of the people. When that trust is broken, it is the FBI’s responsibility to investigate and bring those who corrupt the system to justice.’

Pole faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge, with a maximum fine of $250,000. The theft of government property charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2011.

This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Deborah Sue Mayer and Ethan H. Levisohn of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with full cooperation from former Senator Kennedy’s office.