HARRISBURG, PA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on March 12, 2021, Eliseo Sierra, age 43, of Stuart, Florida, was sentenced to five years of probation, by U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson, for federal program theft. Judge Wilson also ordered Sierra to pay $61,337.09 in restitution.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, in 2014, while employed as an operations manager at Lincoln Charter School, in York, Pennsylvania, Sierra embezzled over $78,000 from the school. He previously repaid the school approximately $16,000. At the time of Sierra’s crime, the school received grants funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
In imposing the probationary sentence, Judge Wilson highlighted Sierra’s medical conditions and the pandemic as a reason for the non-custodial sentence. She also pointed to the age of Sierra’s conduct.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli prosecuted the case.