OIG initiated an investigation of Robert Parker, former Chief of Interpretation at National Park Service (NPS) Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site (MALU) after learning that Parker received donated funds directly from Eastern National, a cooperating association partnered with NPS.
As a result, our investigation determined that Parker embezzled funds donated to MALU by Eastern National, which he then used for personal expenses.
On March 8, 2017, Parker pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of Title 18 USC §641, Theft of Public Money, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Parker was sentenced to four years of Federal probation, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,506.92, a fine of $5,000.00, and a special assessment of $25.00.
Parker resigned from his Federal position effective March 8, 2017, and agreed to not seek future employment with the U.S. Government.