Former Washoe County Employee Indicted for Embezzling Federal Grant Funding

RENO - The former Chief of the Washoe County Department of Alternative Sentencing is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court today for allegedly embezzling over $55,000 in federal grant award funds.

"Public service is a public trust, and violating that trust for personal enrichment degrades the integrity of our civic institutions," said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "The Department of Justice, alongside our federal and local law enforcement partners, remains deeply committed to rooting out public corruption through our Public Corruption Strike Force and ensuring that federal tax dollars are used for their intended public benefit, not to line the pockets of government officials."

"The U.S. Secret Service was founded to protect our nation's financial system, and we're dedicated to continuing that honorable, important work as part of our agency's dual mission," said Special Agent in Charge Karon Ransom for the United States Secret Service Las Vegas Field Office. "The theft of federal funds will not be tolerated and we're proud of the work done by our special agents to investigate this serious crime. We're grateful to our partner agencies that worked tirelessly with us on this case so that justice can be served and a critical message can be sent: if you steal from the federal government, you will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

According to allegations contained in the indictment, the Department of Alternative Sentencing received approximately $1.3 million in grant funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component of the Justice Department. As alleged, from November 2024 to December 2024, Justin Roper embezzled $55,593.52 of federal grant funds.

Roper is charged with one count of federal program theft. If convicted at trial, Roper faces the maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Skyler Pearson is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the District of Nevada's Public Corruption Strike Force. The Strike Force is within the Office's Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys with extensive public corruption experience handle cases of allegations of criminal misconduct. This specialized unit will focus on the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes affecting government integrity, including bribery of public officials at all levels of government, election crimes, and other related offenses. This endeavor is a collaborative effort with federal, state, and local agencies across the Silver State.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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