KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a North Carolina man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to defraud the federal government of more than $225,000.
Jeffrey Blake, 55, of Cornelius, N.C., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, to 14 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Blake to pay $225,213 in restitution.
"We will not tolerate the theft of public funds,” Phillips said. “Vendors and others who abuse their federal contracts by defrauding the government will be held accountable for their criminal behavior.”
Brian D. Miller, Inspector General of the U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General, stated, “when contractors choose to commit fraud against the United States government through GSA procurement programs, our office will vigorously pursue these criminal violations to maintain the integrity of GSA procurement programs and ensure the taxpayers trust.”
