News and Press Releases

Newport News Woman Pleads Guilty to Conflict of Intrest at NASA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2010

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Patricia M. Biondolillo, 50, of Newport News, Va., pleaded guilty today to using her position as a NASA employee to gain employment for her husband at the Langley Research Center. 

            Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States Magistrate Judge Tommy E. Miller. 

            Biondolillo pled guilty to a one count criminal information charging her with using her official position with NASA Langley to secure and advance her husband’s employment at the Langley Research Center. Sentencing has been set for Sept. 23, 2010.  Biondolillo faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. 

            In a statement of facts filed with her plea agreement, Biondolillo admitted that she was employed by NASA as a Human Resources Specialist (HRS) and Co-op Program Coordinator (CPC) at the Langley Research Center, in Hampton, Va. As part of her job, she screened USAJOBS and inquired at Langley for possible employment for her husband, Elmar R. Koldert.  Thereafter, she used non-public information concerning a job opening to introduce her husband’s resume to the selecting official for that position. She failed to disclose her relationship to the prospective employee and pressured university officials to expedite her husband’s admission and therefore, employment at Langley. Despite being directed to not involve herself in the employment process, she continued to be involved, specifically, regarding the issue of his pay grade. The defendant and her husband had a substantial financial interest in securing a position at Langley.

            This case was investigated by the NASA Office of Inspector General.  Assistant United States Attorney Brian J. Samuels is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.

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