Former federal official pleads guilty to false statements

A former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service senior official who concealed working at a nonprofit organization has pleaded guilty to falsifying documents that included $3 million in grants from the federal government to the nonprofit.

The Idaho Statesman reports that Stephen M. Barton pleaded guilty in federal court late last month to one count of making false statements.

Authorities say Barton concealed from his federal employer that he also worked for Boise-based Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies where he received income of $377,000 over several years.

He earned about $155,000 annually from Fish and Wildlife and signed a federal ethics form stating he received no income from his nonprofit work.

Barton faces up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at his Jan. 24 sentencing.

___

Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com