Matthew Wathen, 49, of Michigan, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to five years probation for theft of government funds, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michael Graziano, with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Inspector General (OIG). The Court ordered Wathen to pay restitution in the amount of $26,350.
Wathen, a former Contract Specialist for the DOI’s United States Geological Survey, embezzled approximately $29,092 through unauthorized personal use of his government charge card, including weekly lodging, monthly rental cars, dining, gasoline, vacations, and other expenses.
The case was investigated by the DOI-OIG Eastern Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shundral H. Cole.