Former NIH Employee Pleads Guilty To Theft Of Government Property

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A former National Institutes of Health (NIH) employee from Gaithersburg pleaded guilty to theft of government property on May 3, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. Christopher Dame, 50, admitted to stealing over $75,000 worth of government property from the NIH while working as a Visual Information Specialist for the Medical Arts Division in Bethesda.

Dame admitted to stealing NIH property and selling it online without authorization, the Justice Department said. According to his plea agreement, Dame was responsible for designing, printing, and displaying decorative and informational materials in NIH buildings, as well as directing his colleagues to place purchase orders of printing ink for the Medical Arts Division. At no point did Dame have authority to remove NIH property from the main campus or sell NIH property.

Dame admitted that from January 3, 2013, through January 12, 2017, he regularly stole medical research equipment, photography equipment, and printing supplies belonging to NIH, and sold such items through an e-commerce corporation, enriching himself, the Justice Department said. Dame also deceived his colleagues into purchasing surplus ink for NIH with the intent to ultimately steal the ink and sell it online. During the relevant time period, Dame stole over 400 items belonging to NIH.

As part of his plea agreement, Dame will be required to pay restitution in the full amount of the loss, which is $75,613.14. Dame faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan has scheduled sentencing for September 6, 2017, at 2:30 p.m.

Photo: NIH, via thisisbossi/Flickr