A former Democrat congressional staffer has pleaded guilty to stealing tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money by scheming to fraudulently inflate his salary and bonus payments.
Sterling Carter had been employed as director of operations in Rep. Brad Schneider’s (D-IL) office.
Carter, of Glenwood, Georgia, pleaded guilty today to theft of close to $80,000 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
He now awaits sentencing and faces up to ten years in prison for his crimes.
“The office terminated Sterling Carter on 1/13/21,” Matt Fried, a spokesperson for Schneider said in a statement.
DOJ issued a statement that said: “According to court documents, Sterling Carter, 24, of Glenwood, Georgia, was employed as the Director of Operations by a Member of Congress.
“In that position, Carter was responsible for managing the office’s budget and processing payroll and bonus payments for all employees in the office.
“Between November 2019 and January 2021, Carter submitted fraudulent paperwork which purported to authorize a higher salary and bonus payments for himself.
“Carter concealed this theft from the Congressperson and the office’s Chief of Staff by falsely representing, in both communications and a budget spreadsheet, that he was only being paid what he was legitimately owed.
“In total, Carter received $79,491.67 in unauthorized salary and bonus payments.
“Carter pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to theft of public funds.
“Carter will be sentenced on July 28, 2022.
“He faces up to 10 years in prison.
“A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement,” the statement said.
A former congressional staffer pleaded guilty today to theft of public funds in connection with his scheme to fraudulently inflate his salary and bonus payments, thereby paying himself more than he was legitimately owed. https://t.co/Lad4IQ4Y9w@USAO_DC
— FBI Washington Field (@FBIWFO) April 7, 2022
Sterling Carter, a former staffer for Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., pleaded guilty Thursday for stealing $79,491 in taxpayer money to fraudulently increase his salary, DOJ announced. Carter, 24, faces up to 10 years in federal prison and will be sentenced July 28.
— Chris Marquette (@ChrisMarquette_) April 7, 2022
“The office terminated Sterling Carter on 1/13/21,” Matt Fried, a spokesperson for Schneider, said in a statement.
— Chris Marquette (@ChrisMarquette_) April 7, 2022
