The former executive director of the American Samoa Special Services Commission pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to steal more than $325,000 in AmeriCorps grant funds.
Mine S. Pase, 62, of Pago Pago, American Samoa, pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information in U.S. District Court for DC.
According to court documents, between approximately March 2001 and October 2010, Pase served as the commission’s executive director.
Pase admitted that she arranged for herself, commissioners, commission staff and others to receive federal grant funds for their personal benefit. According to court documents, Pase and her staff received $109,532 in federal grant funds for official business trips that they did not take. In addition, Pase, commissioners and commission staff received approximately $78,889 in federal grant funds to pay for retreats to Apia, Western Samoa, and separately spent $89,313 on meals for the commission’s staff, when Pase knew that such expenditures were not authorized.
According to court documents, Pase arranged for her and her family members to receive $28,009 as payment for office space used by commission programs that was severely damaged and in need of repairs. In addition, Pase’s daughter also received $19,665 as payments under a bogus "lease agreement," when in fact Pase owned and controlled the vehicle that was purportedly being leased by the commission.
The charge of conspiracy to commit theft of federal grant funds carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 23, 2012.
Special agents from the FBI-Honolulu Division helped in the investigation.
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
