WASHINGTON — A former Camp Zama civilian employee has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $100,000 of Department of Defense intelligence contingency funds.
John Taylor, who was assigned to the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade as part of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, entered his plea March 2 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, according to a Department of Justice news release.
Sentencing has been set for June 8.
Taylor served as an intelligence contingency funds officer.
In that role, he was responsible for budgeting, disbursing and accounting for intelligence contingency funds and funds reserved for official duties of government intelligence agents.
According to the news release, he also was responsible for managing classified bank accounts and for supervising agents in classified intelligence gathering activity.
As part of entering his guilty plea, Taylor admitted he used his position as a funds officer to steal at least $106,000 in Defense Department funds designated for intelligence-related activities.
Taylor withdrew the stolen money from a government bank account containing money intended for use by intelligence agents, the release stated.
To cover his tracks, Taylor falsified accounting vouchers and forms, according to the release.
Theft or embezzlement from the U.S. government carries a maximum penalty 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
