BOP Correctional Officer Pleaded Guilty to Mail Fraud and Theft of Government Money

On December 16, 2021, a BOP Information Technology Specialist assigned to the Federal Correctional Institution Edgefield (FCI Edgefield) in South Carolina, pleaded guilty to one count each of mail fraud and theft of government money.  Johnathan Owens pleaded guilty in the District of South Carolina.  According to the plea agreement, Owens pleaded guilty to counts one and seven of the Indictment, which stated that from in or about May 2014 through in or about May 2019, he knowingly devised a scheme and artifice to defraud FCI Edgefield and to obtain property from FCI Edgefield by means of false and fraudulent pretenses.  Specifically, Owens allegedly prepared and submitted credit card purchase forms for his supervisor’s approval in advance of purchasing certain items utilizing his government-issued credit card.  On those credit card purchase forms, Owens allegedly falsely reported and disguised the items to be purchased as legitimate purchases for FCI Edgefield, and then had those items delivered to himself by U.S. Mail or another interstate carrier.  Owens allegedly then disguised and falsified the credit card statements for his government credit card in an attempt to conceal the true nature of the items purchased, thereby causing FCI Edgefield to pay for certain non-legitimate, personal merchandise for his benefit or the benefit of members of his family.  Also according to the Indictment, from in or about January 2019 through in or about June 2019, Owens embezzled and converted to his own use money in excess of $1,000 by misreporting his time and attendance records, thereby receiving payment for approximately 120 hours of overtime to which he was not entitled. The investigation is being conducted by the OIG’s Atlanta Area Office.