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Theft of vacation ends in prison time
Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, May 10, 2008
Story appeared in METRO section, Page B2
SACRAMENTO – A former employee of the U.S. Geological Survey was sentenced Friday in federal court to a year in prison for stealing co-workers' annual leave.
Robert Joseph Thom submitted forged physician reports to get on the government's nationwide annual leave list of recipients, qualifying him to receive vacation time donated by other federal employees, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rodriguez.
Thom, 46, claimed he had undergone "multiple urgent surgeries" for brain tumors. He periodically submitted false medical reports concerning post-surgery recovery and forged treatment reports calling for time off work, Rodriguez said.
Based on Thom's plea for donated annual leave, 30 employees of the U.S. Department of Interior – the Geological Survey's parent agency – including at least 10 outside of California, donated 982 hours of leave with a value of nearly $40,000, enabling continuation of his salary and benefits.
In addition to the year behind bars, U.S. District Judge Edward J. Garcia ordered Thom to make full restitution to the victims of his theft.
Thom was employed by the USGS Sacramento office but was posted in Southern California.
– Denny Walsh
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