USAO, Western District of New York - Press Release

Summary

On May 7, 2015, Justin D. Weese, former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airway Transportation System Specialist, Rochester System Support Center, Rochester, New York, pleaded guilty to criminal conversion of government property. 

Weese's guilty plea was in connection with his theft, and conversion to his own use, of a six-wheeled ATV, lawn mower, and trailer that belonged to the FAA. In June 2014, Weese falsely represented to FAA management that the ATV and other FAA property were taken to a scrap yard for destruction when, in fact, they were not. He provided management with a bogus receipt from the scrap yard that falsely indicated the transfer. OIG Special Agents later discovered the property at Weese's residence. 

Weese had been employed by the FAA since September 2005. On April 14, 2015, he resigned from federal service in the midst of the investigation. 

The Rochester System Support Center is responsible for maintaining environmental systems in support of air traffic control at various FAA facilities and radar towers in upstate New York.