Ga Tech Bio-engineering Employee Pleads Guilty to Defrauding National Science Foundation

FORMER GEORGIA TECH EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTYIN “P-CARD” SCHEME Atlanta, GA - DONNA RENEE GAMBLE, 43, of Marietta, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to charges arising out of a scheme to defraud the Georgia Institute of Technology (”Georgia Tech”) and the National Science Foundation (“NSF”), an agency of the United States Government.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of the case, “This former Georgia Tech employee has now admitted her blatant and extensive misuse of her government P-card. Employees with access to government credit cards should understand that the unauthorized use of public funds can lead to a felony conviction and prison.”

According to United States Attorney Nahmias, and other information presented in court: GAMBLE was employed by Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where she was assigned to the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience. As an employee of Georgia Tech, GAMBLE had access to one or more Georgia Tech credit cards, also known as Procurement Cards or “P-Cards,” which she was allowed to use for authorized official business purchases only. GAMBLE was prohibited from charging personal purchases on her Georgia Tech P-Cards. From April 2002 through April 2007, GAMBLE used her Georgia Tech P-Cards to purchase more than 3,800 personal items, at a total cost of more than $316,000. In an effort to conceal and disguise the personal nature of certain charges on her Georgia Tech P-Cards, GAMBLE created fake receipts, which she submitted to her supervisor, and made false entries in Georgia Tech’s accounting records. Grant money provided to Georgia Tech by the NSF was used to pay for GAMBLE’s personal purchases.

GAMBLE was indicted on the charges on March 12, 2008. GAMBLE pled guilty to all 22 counts in the Indictment, which charged mail fraud and theft from an organization receiving federal funds. The charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Sentencing for GAMBLE has been set for July 22, 2008, at 2 p.m. before Judge Jack T. Camp.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Russell Phillips is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact David E. Nahmias (pronounced NAH-me-us), United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.