United States Attorney's Office
District of Columbia
March 20, 2015
Former D.C. Government Employee Pleads Guilty to Using Government-Issued Credit Cards for Personal Purposes
Another Employee Pled Guilty in a Related Case Last Week
WASHINGTON – Terrell McCray, 31, a former employee of the District of Columbia Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (DCFEMS), pled guilty today to using government-issued credit cards to make purchases over $4,000 in gasoline for personal vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Robert C. Erickson, Deputy Inspector General of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).
McCray was arrested in January 2015, following an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). He had been a ticket writer in the DCFEMS Fleet Division.
McCray, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of first-degree misdemeanor fraud. The Honorable Neal E. Kravitz scheduled sentencing for May 20, 2015. The charge carries a statutory maximum of 180 days in jail and/or financial penalties. The plea agreement calls for McCray to make full restitution.
In a related investigation, Kimberley Pinkney, 45, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty on March 9, 2015 to second-degree felony fraud. Pinkney, a former inspector with DCFEMS, admitted using her government-issued credit card to purchase over $11,000 in gasoline for her personal vehicle. She is to be sentenced on May 5, 2015. She also agreed to make full restitution.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at today’s plea hearing, GSA administers the leases of over 150,000 government vehicles, including 41 to DCFEMS. Each vehicle is assigned a credit card to be used to purchase fuel and pay for other normal vehicle-related expenses, such as car washes and routine maintenance. GSA pays charges on the cards with federal funds.
McCray’s actions came to light in the fall of 2014 during a proactive review of purchases associated with the government credit cards. Investigators flagged suspicious activity. McCray was interviewed by GSA investigators in December 2014 after he was observed that month selling gas to fuel two Mercedes Benz sedans with Maryland license plates. The investigation also determined he fueled his own Jaguar and other persons’ vehicles on multiple occasions.
McCray acknowledged to investigators that he used government cards for personal use, and stated that he also sold gas at discounts to friends and acquaintances. A review of purchases made between Aug. 16, 2014 and Dec. 12, 2014, showed that the total fraud generated by his use of these cards as $4,170.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen and Deputy Inspector General Erickson commended those who investigated the case, including the team led by Special Agent in Charge Gerald Garren. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Internal Affairs Unit and the command staff of the D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Finally, they acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kristy Penny and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie G. Miller, who is prosecuting the case.
###
