Ex-ICE official pleads guilty to fraud

• Tweet

WASHINGTON, May 1 (UPI) -- A former top intelligence official in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding the government of $180,000.

The U.S. Justice Department said in a statement James M. Woosley, 48, former acting director of intelligence for Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement, participated in a scheme involving fraudulent travel vouchers and time and attendance claims.

The scheme lasted from 2008 to 2011. Woosley also admitted he knew of criminal activities by subordinates.

Formerly of Tucson, Woosley pleaded guilty in Washington to a charge of conversion of government money. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson scheduled sentencing for July 13.

Woosley faces a likely sentence of 18 to 27 months in prison as well as a potential fine under federal guidelines, the department said. In addition, as part of his plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit the money he fraudulently obtained.

Four other former officials earlier pleaded guilty to charges in the scheme.

Ahmed Adil Abdallat, 64, a former ICE supervisory intelligence research specialist, pleaded guilty in October 2011; William J. Korn, 53, a former ICE intelligence research specialist, pleaded guilty in December 2011; Stephen E. Henderson, 61, a former contractor doing work for ICE, pleaded guilty in January 2012; and Lateisha M. Rollerson, 38, a former assistant to Woosley, pleaded guilty in March 2012. Abdallat pleaded guilty in the Western District of Texas, while the others pleaded guilty in Washington.

The Justice Department said the fraud of the various defendants cost ICE more than $600,000.