A former DHS employee pleaded guilty after admitting she falsified timesheets, hid simultaneous federal work, and caused nearly a quarter million dollars in losses; prosecutors say the scheme exploited telework and multiple contractor roles, and sentencing is set for January 20, 2027.
A federal employee, Richeline Anisso Fung, admitted this week that she submitted fraudulent claims while on the payroll of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Fung, 46, formerly of Maryland and now of Florida, entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court after investigators traced a pattern of overlapping work and inflated hours. The allegations say her misconduct spanned several years and multiple agencies.
Court records show Fung held a full-time position at DHS-CISA from September 2016 through October 2025 while also billing for paid contractor roles elsewhere. Between January 2021 and August 2024 she served in contractor positions for the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Energy, Department of Justice, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and U.S. Department of Agriculture. She also operated through a consulting business she incorporated in Florida in 2020.
Prosecutors say Fung routinely certified timesheets that overstated the hours she worked, claiming impossible daily totals. On multiple dates in February 2022 she logged more than 24 hours in a single day; the records allege she reported 33 hours on February 7, 8, 9, and 10, and 32 hours on February 11. Investigators say those claims were part of the scheme to collect pay from overlapping federal and contractor positions at the same time.
Fung acknowledged she concealed each role from the others and used telework to hide the conflicts, according to court filings. Teleworking allowed her to appear present in multiple positions while actually billing for duplicate time. Prosecutors say that concealment made it easier for her to collect pay from more than one federal source at the same hours.
“Richeline Fung stole a quarter‑million dollars from the American taxpayer, and today she stands as a convicted felon who will be required to pay full restitution,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. That statement underscores the Justice Department’s view that public service is a responsibility, not an opportunity to enrich oneself by fraud. The government says full restitution will be required under Fung’s plea agreement.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald stressed consequences for such conduct. “No profession is immune from prosecution,” he said. “Richeline Fung abused her positions as a federal employee and government contractor to steal nearly $250,000 from the U.S. government. Public service is a public trust, not an opportunity to defraud American taxpayers. We will continue to hold accountable anyone who defrauds the United States, regardless of title or agency.”
The Honorable Sparkle Sooknanan accepted Fung’s guilty plea and set sentencing for January 20, 2027. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman will handle the prosecution at sentencing, where the court will consider the scope of financial loss and the terms of restitution. The timeline now shifts from investigation to formal punishment and recovery of funds.
Multiple oversight offices led the probe into Fung’s conduct, including the Offices of the Inspector General for AmeriCorps, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Health and Human Services, along with the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Those agencies coordinated to trace payments and piece together overlapping timesheets and contractor invoices. The joint investigation highlights how watchdog offices and federal law enforcement can work together to intercept complex fraud schemes.
The Justice Department recently created the National Fraud Enforcement Division to target schemes that misuse taxpayer dollars, and officials say this case fits squarely within that mission. Department leaders have tied enforcement actions to broader government initiatives aimed at eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. Prosecutors also link these efforts to presidentially led priorities focused on protecting taxpayer money.
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Fung’s plea agreement requires full repayment for the losses her criminal conduct caused, and the government will seek restitution at sentencing. Beyond criminal penalties, the case serves as a warning to federal employees and contractors about conflicts of interest, undisclosed outside employment, and falsified work records. Officials say they will continue to pursue similar cases whenever auditors and investigators uncover evidence of theft and fraud.
The facts in this case — overlapping federal employment, false certifications of work hours, and the use of telework to mask fraud — provide a clear scenario for prosecutors. The federal response combines investigative work from inspector general offices with criminal prosecution to recover funds and deter future misconduct. With sentencing set, the matter now moves from plea to punishment and repayment.
