PERF ID Thief's Sentencing Date Pushed Back

Scott was originally scheduled for sentencing this week, but the date was pushed back after he agreed to revise his plea agreement.   In the revised plea agreement Scott admitted bribing employees at the Volunteers of America work-release facility to get preferential treatment, according to an Indianapolis Star report.

Previously, Scott was convicted of embezzling $659,000 from his former employer, Bloomington-based Cook Group Inc., and for stealing another man’s identity to land his job at PERF.   Scott resigned from his post at PERF in August of 2002 after his criminal past was revealed to state officials (SeeProbe Continues into Former Pension Benefits Officer).

More Fraud Accounts

In September, one of Scott’s former mignons, Shaunna Stone, pleaded guilty to a single count of bank fraud and 13 counts of misusing the Social Security numbers of other people.  Additionally, Stone admitted stealing $22,586 and seven identities from the fund (See  Former Indiana Pension Worker Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges ).   Stone had previously worked in the same benefits department headed by Scott.

Sentencing for Stone was put on hold, since she was8 1/2 months pregnant as the time of her guilty plea.   She faces a maximum of 30 years in prison for the bank fraud charge and will be ordered to pay restitution.

Also in September a federal indictment was handed down against another former PERF employee, James Spaulding, for allegedly leading an eight-person conspiracy to steal $226,873 from the fund, which ultimately led to his arrest in August (See  Accused PERF Fraud Perpetrator Ordered To Jail Until Trial ).  The theft was orchestrated during Spaulding’s temporary employment for the fund from January 2002 to July 2002, where the accusation of altering members’ accounts and causing checks to be cut from the fund in the names of his friends arose.