NPS Supervisor Convicted of Embezzling Park Fee Funds at Mammoth Cave National Park

The OIG investigated allegations that Leslie Lewis, a National Park Service (NPS) Supervisory Fee Management Specialist, embezzled fee deposit funds from Mammoth Cave National Park, KY.We determined that from 2014 through 2018 Lewis embezzled $169,322 from the park’s fee collection program, using several schemes to conceal the thefts. We also found that, at the time of the thefts, the park’s fee collection procedures did not conform to NPS policy governing such programs, but park officials have corrected the deficiencies.The U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky prosecuted Lewis, who pleaded guilty to theft in U.S. District Court. She was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration followed by 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $169,322 in restitution.