St. Louis, MO - Nizam Hasheem Alexander, 39, employed since 2009 as a Special Agent by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (‘FBI") at its Little Rock, Arkansas Field Office until his resignation on Jan. 28, 2019, pled guilty to a one count Information - embezzlement of Government property. Alexander appeared before Judge Henry Autrey today who accepted his plea and set his sentencing for April 30, 2019.
According to his plea agreement, from September 4, 2016 through June 15, 2017, Defendant was assigned to work at FBI Headquarters and the FBI Field Office in Washington, D.C. Defendant, as an FBI employee, was required to accurately report and certify his regular hours and his Law Enforcement Availability Pay (“LEAP") hours worked, or excused with authorized leave, on a bi-weekly basis.
Defendant regularly submitted false and fraudulent time and attendance certifications falsely representing that he had worked certain regular and LEAP hours. As a result of these false and fraudulent certifications, the FBI and the United States Department of Justice paid Defendant compensation for the regular and LEAP hours which he certified he had worked. Defendant knew these certifications were false because he knew he had not worked the claimed regular and LEAP hours as represented. Defendant well knew that, in fact, he had been away from his assigned work station, engaged in unauthorized conduct and personal activities not related to his job duties. Defendant submitted these false and fraudulent certifications in order to conceal his unauthorized personal activities, and in order to get paid.
During 2016, Defendant submitted and falsely certified approximately 237.75 regular and LEAP hours. During 2017, Defendant submitted and falsely certified approximately 136 regular and LEAP hours. These false certifications resulted in Defendant receiving compensation for unworked regular and LEAP hours in the amount of approximately $24,629.87 for which he knew he was not entitled. The FBI and the United States Department of Justice paid Defendant the compensation for the unauthorized and unworked overtime by causing the compensation to be deposited electronically into an account in Defendant’s name at Navy Federal Credit Union in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Alexander faces not more than ten years, fine of not more than $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case was investigated by the Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General. Special Attorney to the U.S. Acting Attorney General Hal Goldsmith is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
