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Ex-Air Force Employee Eddie Johnson Jr. Charged With Stealing $774K

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A Maryland man who worked as an Air Force travel coordinator has been indicted on charges that he stole more than $774,000 in government funds.

Monday's federal indictment in Maryland charges Eddie Ray Johnson Jr., 59, of Brandywine, with theft of government property and money laundering, prosecutors said in a news release.

Johnson was a civilian Air Force employee from January 2003 to February 2018. His duties included planning congressional travel and reviewing and approving accounting packages submitted by trip escorts, according to prosecutors.

The indictment accuses Johnson of using a government-issued credit card to obtain more than $1.1 million in cash advances and diverting at least $774,000 for his personal use.

Johnson's initial court appearance for the indictment wasn't immediately scheduled.

The theft charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The money laundering charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

(© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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