Investigations

On March 17, Robert C. Gonzalez, a former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) electronics technician, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Brooklyn, New York to 60 days home confinement, followed by three years of supervised release and substance abuse treatment due to his involvement in a travel voucher fraud scheme. Mr. Gonzalez has already paid restitution to the FAA in the amount of $21,603.89. In December 2008, Mr. Gonzalez pled guilty to a previously filed indictment charging him with embezzlement. Mr. Gonzalez, employed by the FAA Airways Facilities Division, Jamaica, New York, repaired electronic equipment at field locations, a position requiring frequent travel. In 2000, Mr. Gonzalez advised the FAA he would be changing his residence from a New York location to Findlay, Ohio. Our investigation determined that Mr. Gonzalez was actually living in a hotel in Rome, New York. In addition, in some instances Mr. Gonzalez claimed to be at locations outside of Rome, NY when in fact he remained in Rome, NY. Mr. Gonzalez took retirement shortly after being arrested by OIG special agents. Our investigation was conducted with assistance from FAA, Eastern Region Security & Hazardous Materials Division.