NPS Contractor Pleaded Guilty to Wire Fraud

The OIG investigated allegations that a company fraudulently altered a purchase order (PO) that the National Park Service (NPS) awarded for the replacement of two fuel pumps at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The company also allegedly then issued the altered PO to a second company to perform the work. We found that Kentey Fielder, owner of the first company, falsely represented himself to a second company as an NPS employee and emailed that second company two altered POs reflecting the second company as the primary contractor on the NPS fuel pump project. On the basis of these fraudulent POs, the second company then performed the work. The NPS subsequently paid Fielder under the legitimate PO, but Fielder never paid the second company for the equipment or labor it provided. Fielder pleaded guilty to one count in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, Wire Fraud, and was subsequently sentenced to 3 years of probation with an additional condition of 8 months of home detention. He was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $12,687.62 and was debarred from participation in Federal procurement and nonprocurement programs.