FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORMER NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER EMPLOYEE CONVICTED IN SCHEME TO DEFRAUD THE NAVY
Approved Fraudulent Invoices for Goods Never Delivered
Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal jury today convicted Central W. Godbolt, age 47, of Burtonsville, Maryland, in connection with a scheme to defraud the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), where he was employed, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Godbolt was convicted of conspiring to defraud the United States and to make false statements and three counts of making false statements.
According to the testimony presented at the three day trial, Godbolt was employed by the NSWC as an engineer and was issued a government credit card with the authority to obtain goods and services relevant and necessary for the NSWC. The testimony showed that from at least January 2000 through January 2002 Godbolt and co-conspirator Kwame Mayson created fraudulent invoices in the names of fictitious companies, falsely reflecting that those companies had provided goods and services to NWSC. Mayson submitted those invoices to Godbolt, who used his government credit card to pay the invoices, knowing that the goods and services were never provided to the NSWC. Godbolt then signed statements falsely certifying that the purchase amounts he charged to his card were correct and were required to fulfill the mission requirements of the NSWC.
Mayson, age 37, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2007
Godbolt faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and five years in prison for each of three counts of making a false statement. U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus has scheduled sentencing for January 9, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. The full amount of the loss will be determined at sentencing.
In October 2006, the Deputy Attorney General announced the formation of a National Procurement Fraud Task Force designed to promote the early detection, identification, prevention and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs. The Procurement Fraud Task Force - chaired by Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher for the Criminal Division - includes the United States Attorneys’ Offices, the FBI, the U.S. Inspectors General community, and a number of other federal law enforcement agencies. This case, as well as other cases brought by members of the Task Force, demonstrate the Department of Justice’s commitment to helping ensure the integrity of the government procurement process.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Naval Audit Service for their investigative and audit work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina L. Simms and Jonathan Su, who are prosecuting the case.