WASHINGTON D.C.
A former Congressional staffer plead guilty Thursday to the theft of public funds in connection with his scheme to fraudulently inflate his salary and bonus payments, thereby paying himself more than he was legitimately owed.
According to court documents, Sterling Carter, 24, of Glenwood, Georgia, was employed as the Director of Operations by a Member of Congress.
In that position, Carter was responsible for managing the office’s budget and processing payroll and bonus payments for all employees in the office.
Between November 2019 and January 2021, Carter submitted fraudulent paperwork which purported to authorize a higher salary and bonus payments for himself.
Carter concealed this theft from the Congressperson and the office’s Chief of Staff by falsely representing, in both communications and a budget spreadsheet, that he was only being paid what he was legitimately owed.
In total, Carter received $79,491.67 in unauthorized salary and bonus payments.
Carter pleaded guilty in federal court to the theft of public funds.
Carter will be sentenced on July 28 and faces up to 10 years in prison.