Today, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced the arrest of Evester Edd, a former senior human resources employee for the Peace Corps. Edd, 64, from Silver Spring, Maryland, faces charges of wire fraud, theft of government funds, and making false statements to federal agents.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Inspector General Joaquin E. Ferrao from the Peace Corps Office of Inspector General (Peace Corps OIG), and Acting Inspector General Joe Allen from the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General (FHFA-OIG).
According to an affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, Edd allegedly defrauded the U.S. government by working simultaneously as a federal employee and contractor. He is accused of falsifying timecards submitted to various federal agencies and misrepresenting his work amount. This scheme reportedly involved using wire communications to submit false reports resulting in double billing for tens of thousands of dollars.
Edd also faces accusations of making false statements during security clearance documentation by misrepresenting his ties to individuals overseas. Additionally, he allegedly lied during an interview with federal agents about electronic accounts he created and actions taken involving money sent to foreign nationals in exchange for explicit content. The affidavit claims that Edd abused his government access over 1,000 times to handle Privacy Act information improperly.
This arrest follows a yearlong investigation led by Peace Corps OIG in collaboration with FHFA-OIG and other law enforcement partners. In November 2024, federal agents executed a search warrant at Edd’s home to recover electronic devices. He retired from federal service in December 2024 amid this ongoing investigation.
“Public service is a public trust," stated Hayes. "These charges reflect the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment — along with our law enforcement partners — to holding individuals accountable when they undermine the integrity of federal agencies and violate the law."
Ferrao emphasized their dedication to pursuing allegations against those who defraud taxpayers: “The investigation and today’s arrest underscore our commitment.”
Allen added that identifying fraudulent schemes is central to FHFA OIG's mission: “As today’s arrest reflects, FHFA OIG works closely with our partner OIGs and the Department of Justice.”
Edd could face up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud, 10 years for theft of government property, five years for false statements to federal agents, along with fines and restitution.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended both Peace Corps OIG and FHFA-OIG for their investigative efforts and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Baldwin who is prosecuting this case.
For further details on reporting fraud or more information about Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office priorities visit justice.gov/usao-md or justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
