HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Sally Schrom, age 66, of Mountville, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information with theft of government funds.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the information alleges that between April 2017 and November 2019, Schrom unlawfully received federal military retirement benefits and federal civilian retirement benefits that were meant for another individual. The benefits totaled over $73,000.
“Every dollar stolen from the U.S Government’s retirement coffers is one less dollar available for legitimate beneficiaries,” stated Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Northeast Field Office. “DCIS commends the efforts of our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, for protecting the interests of those who served our country.”
“Ms. Schrom’s criminal actions to receive military retirement benefits and federal civilian retirement benefits intended for a family member who passed away wasted valuable taxpayer money that should have been used to support the many military and federal civilian retirees who dedicated their lives to public service,” said NCIS Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Wiest of the NCIS Northeast Field Office. “NCIS and our law enforcement partners remain committed to rooting out theft and corruption that threatens the wellbeing of our Department of the Navy family.”
The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Defense Finance Accounting Service, and the Manheim Township Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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