Oregon Education Department Accountant Charged In Federal Funds Theft

Brent Crosson of Salem, Oregon, a former accountant with the Oregon Department of Education, has been charged by federal prosecutors with diverting $925,000 in federal education funds from the state to the accounts of an online guns and ammunition dealership he had started, and then to his personal accounts. The missing funds were federal grants for charter schools, anti-drug programs and health programs. The alleged transfers took place between June 2006 and June 2007; $750,000 has been recovered. The US Attorney charged him by filing an information rather than seeking an indictment, an indication that a plea agreement will follow. AP here, Oregonian here.