Maryland Woman Pleads Guilty for Role in Million Dollar Fraud Scheme at New Orleans Marine Forces Reserve Facility

NEW ORLEANS - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KAMILA HORAKOVA DUDLEY ("DUDLEY"), age 43, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pled guilty on July 30, 2024, before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to misprision of a felony, namely, wire fraud, in violation of Title18, United States Code, Section 4.

According to court documents, DUDLEY was employed by Company A from September 2008 through March 2023; and, from March 2017 through November 2018, she served as Company A's office manager. As Company A's office manager, DUDLEY, among other things, prepared and submitted Company A's invoices for payment.

In approximately March 2017, Company A subcontracted with Company B to provide onsite support services at the Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. Company A, by and through multiple employees, committed wire fraud by knowingly submitting materially false invoices to Company B, knowing that Company B would, in turn, present the false information to the United States for payment. From March 2017 through November 2018, Company A billed the United States, through Company B, for services not provided. The fraudulent invoices included the names of Company A's executives, who performed no work at MARFORRES. The fraudulent invoices also included the names of certain individuals who worked full-time on a separate contract at a separate facility and, thus, performed no work at MARFORRES. Because neither Company B nor the United States was aware of the fraudulent nature of the invoices, Company A was paid approximately $1,300,000 under the subcontract.

Despite having knowledge of these events, that constituted wire fraud, DUDLEY did not make known the information and, further, attempted to conceal it. For example, on or about October 31, 2017, DUDLEY was notified by one of her colleagues that Company A's cost submissions contained the names of individuals who worked on a separate contract and who performed no work at MARFORRES. DUDLEY did not make that information known, including the fact that prior invoices containing those names were false and fraudulent. DUDLEY resumed the preparation and submission of Company A's invoices, removed only the challenged names, and concealed the fraudulent nature of the earlier submissions.

DUDLEY faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three (3) years, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, and restitution to the United States Department of the Navy for her conduct. Sentencing has been scheduled before Judge Guidry on October 29, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the special agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and members of the Defense Contract Audit Agency. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andre Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.