Former Fire Chief at PB Arsenal Pleads Guilty to Filing False Overtime Pay Claim
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: April 19, 2012
The former fire chief at the Pine Bluff Arsenal has pleaded guilty to filing a false claim for overtime pay.
Thomas James Braumuller, 54, was a firefighter with the Department of Defense since 1988. He began working at the Pine Bluff Arsenal's fire department in May 2004 and was promoted to Chief of the fire department at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in 2006. As Chief, Braumuller was paid about $115,000 in annual base pay, not including unscheduled overtime.
Federal court officials say from January 2009 through March 2011, Braumuller submitted false time and attendance records to collect overtime pay for time he had not worked. The approximate total value of the unscheduled overtime claimed by Braumuller during this period is $133,974.45. Braumuller resigned in March 2011 as fire chief.
"It is a travesty that someone holding a position of leadership would lie for his own personal gain," stated Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, who announced Braumuller's guilty plea today. "Thankfully, this is an aberration and not the norm for federal employees. There are many dedicated federal employees who work hard each day and honestly earn their publicly funded salaries. For those who choose to cheat the taxpayers, as in this case, we will hold them accountable for their dishonesty."
Thyer said at the plea hearing held before the Honorable J. Leon Holmes, Braumuller admitted that, from 2009 through early 2011, while he was fire chief, he falsified some of his time and attendance records by reporting overtime he did not work and used the money to pay medical bills and other personal expenses.
The statutory penalty for presenting a false claim to the United States is not more than five (5) years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. Braumuller remains free on his own recognizance pending sentencing, which will be set by the Court at a later date.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Army Joint Munitions Command.
Thomas James Braumuller, 54, was a firefighter with the Department of Defense since 1988. He began working at the Pine Bluff Arsenal's fire department in May 2004 and was promoted to Chief of the fire department at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in 2006. As Chief, Braumuller was paid about $115,000 in annual base pay, not including unscheduled overtime.
Federal court officials say from January 2009 through March 2011, Braumuller submitted false time and attendance records to collect overtime pay for time he had not worked. The approximate total value of the unscheduled overtime claimed by Braumuller during this period is $133,974.45. Braumuller resigned in March 2011 as fire chief.
"It is a travesty that someone holding a position of leadership would lie for his own personal gain," stated Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, who announced Braumuller's guilty plea today. "Thankfully, this is an aberration and not the norm for federal employees. There are many dedicated federal employees who work hard each day and honestly earn their publicly funded salaries. For those who choose to cheat the taxpayers, as in this case, we will hold them accountable for their dishonesty."
Thyer said at the plea hearing held before the Honorable J. Leon Holmes, Braumuller admitted that, from 2009 through early 2011, while he was fire chief, he falsified some of his time and attendance records by reporting overtime he did not work and used the money to pay medical bills and other personal expenses.
The statutory penalty for presenting a false claim to the United States is not more than five (5) years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. Braumuller remains free on his own recognizance pending sentencing, which will be set by the Court at a later date.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Army Joint Munitions Command.
