A Silver Spring man, formerly employed by the Peace Corps, was apprehended on charges of defrauding the government and lying to federal agents, as announced in a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes commented that the public trust is broken when government workers engage in fraudulent behavior. The accused, Evester Edd, faces charges of wire fraud, theft of government funds, and making false statements to federal agents. The charges carry a potential maximum sentence of 35 years, possible fines, and restitution.

Edd, performing the duties of a senior human resources official at the Peace Corps, is accused of working concurrently as a federal employee and a contractor. He allegedly submitted falsified timecards to different agencies and misrepresented his work quantity, effectively double billing for tens of thousands of dollars according to the release. Prosecutors further claim that Edd improperly accessed, saved, and transmitted confidential and agency-sensitive information to commercial emails and personal devices on multiple occasions. It is also alleged that he made false declarations on security clearance forms, distorting his overseas ties. The U.S. Attorney’s Office maintains that during an interview, Edd lied about the electronic accounts he created and transmitting money to foreign nationals.

This arrest follows a year-long investigation, led by the inspectors general of the Peace Corps and Federal Housing Finance Agency. Federal agents arrested Edd subsequent to a search of his home in November, wherein they confiscated electronic devices. Edd then retired from his federal position the following month, amidst ongoing investigations. Alluding to the arrest, Peace Corps Inspector General Joaquin Ferrao stated their dedication to pursue allegations against those who defraud taxpayers and who undermine the public trust in the federal workforce.

For those searching for further information or clarification on this matter, it may be difficult to get ahold of Edd. However, details about the process, legalities, and other related information concerning government fraud can be obtained from the appropriate institutions. It may be beneficial to reference online resources such as eddcaller.com, where extensive information and support regarding how to get a hold of Edd, how to contact SDI, Edd customer service, and even how to contact a live person at Edd California can be found.