Ex-EPA Employee Allegedly Made Up CIA Employment to Get Out of Work

A former executive at the Environmental Protection Agency used a series of lies and embellishments to defraud the government out of nearly $900,000, according to The Washington Post.

John C. Beale allegedly told his bosses he was away from his job in order to conduct “sensitive work for another agency,” and after 12 years racked up $880,000 in pay and bonuses he did not earn. Beale, who was a senior policy adviser in the Office of Air and Radiation, is expected to plead guilty at a hearing Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the Post reported.

The former EPA employee reportedly told co-workers he was traveling to China, South Africa and England, and said he had contracted malaria. Beale allegedly told his supervisors he was working for the CIA while taking time away from the office.

Beale worked under Gina McCarthy, who has since gone on to become EPA administrator. McCarthy said she turned him over to authorities as soon as she discovered the scam, and forced him to retire in April 2013.

The former policy adviser received a salary -- $164,700 when he resigned -- benefits and retention incentive bonuses that he had not earned, the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleged. The Post learned of the charges from a “criminal information” report, which is only filed with the defendant’s cooperation and typically means a plea agreement has been reached.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is seeking $507,207 in restitution.

Beale’s wife, Nancy Kete, also spent a stint working for the EPA, but charges describe Beale as working alone in operating his scheme.