January 11, 2008

FORMER TICKET AGENT INDICTED FOR EMBEZZLING APPROXIMATELY $180,000 FROM AMTRAK FROM 2002 TO 2004

SAN FRANCISCO – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced that Lawrence E. Crayton III of Oakland, California made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Francisco on January 9, 2008 before United States District Judge Maxine M. Chesney. A federal grand jury in San Francisco had previously indicted Mr. Crayton on Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds on December 18, 2007. Mr. Crayton is scheduled for his next appearance in federal court in San Francisco on February 13, 2008 before Judge Chesney.

According to the indictment, Mr. Crayton, 58, was a ticket agent and employee of Amtrak, an organization which received federal benefits in excess of $10,000 for each calender year from 2002 to 2004. The indictment further alleges that Mr. Crayton embezzled approximately $180,000 from 2002 to 2004.

The maximum statutory penalty for each count of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666 is 10 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Christina Hua is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Ana Guerra and Wilson Wong. The prosecution is the result of a three year investigation by the Amtrak Office of Inspector General.

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For more information on federal criminal defense law, contact the Law Offices of Joseph Shemaria of Los Angeles, California.