Pamela J. Kahut, former Chief Financial Officer of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for theft from the organization's health benefit trust account. The sentencing took place in Portland, Oregon.
Kahut, 68, was also ordered to pay $211,083.27 in restitution to PSMFC and a $10,000 fine. At the time of her offense, she had access to and control over the PSMFC’s health benefit trust account, which is used to cover benefits and fees for employees under its self-funded health care program. This account receives funding partly through federal grants provided to PSMFC.
According to court documents, between October 2014 and September 2020, Kahut stole more than $211,000 from the trust account. She used these funds for personal expenses including her spouse’s long-term care premiums, pension loan repayments, and credit card bills.
On April 8, 2025, Kahut was charged by information with Theft in Connection with Health Care. She pleaded guilty on June 5, 2025.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with inspectors general from the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Department of Energy. Robert Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, prosecuted the case.
"This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Robert Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon."
