SCRANTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Thomas Hartley, age 47, of Henryville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on October 20, 2020, by a federal grand jury for theft of government funds, making false claims against the United States, and making false statements.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that while on leave from his position with the Department of Labor and serving with the New Jersey National Guard, Hartley submitted false documents to the Department of the Army and thereby obtained approximately $23,580 in housing allowance funds to which he was not entitled.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Special Investigations and the United States Army, Criminal Investigation Command.  Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Under federal law, the charge of Theft of Government Funds carries up to a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The charges of False Claims against the United States and False Statements each carry up to a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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