Chesapeake man sentenced in government fraud case

NORFOLK

A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for making false statements in a government purchase card fraud scheme, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia.

Antonio Allen, 36, had pleaded guilty in April.

Citing court documents, the release said that Allen, a chief petty officer in the Navy, was stationed at the Naval Support Activity at Norfolk Naval Station, and part of his duties included supervising a government purchase card holder, Yokeia M. Gibbs. Allen was to review purchase-card order forms submitted by Gibbs and then certify the purchases at the end of the month so payment would be issued for the purchases Gibbs had made.

In March 2007, Navy investigators uncovered a massive fraud scheme perpetuated by Gibbs, the release said. Gibbs had been using the government purchase card to buy high-value electronics, such as computers and televisions, and then sold or gave them to friends or family members. Allen had approved and certified the purchases, which totaled $363,243.

Allen initially denied any knowledge of the fraudulent purchases, the release said, but he later recanted his statement and admitted to investigators that he had been involved with Gibbs and some of the personal fraudulent purchases.

In one instance, Allen admitted to attending a real estate seminar and using the government purchase card assigned to Gibbs to pay for the cost of attending and the course materials.