Former Peace Corps Official Accused of Double Dipping, Misusing Government Systems in Fraud Scheme

A former federal employee from Silver Spring is facing serious charges that could lead to decades in prison after allegedly defrauding multiple government agencies and misusing his official access to sensitive information. Prosecutors say Evester Edd, 64, who held a senior human resources role with the Peace Corps, orchestrated a fraudulent scheme involving double billing and unauthorized data transfers.

According to federal investigators, Edd simultaneously held positions as both a government employee and contractor, submitting false timecards and overstating the work performed to collect duplicate payments totaling tens of thousands of dollars. He is also accused of misrepresenting facts on security clearance forms and lying to investigators during interviews, including about his connections to foreign nationals and the use of electronic accounts. Officials say he sent sensitive government information to personal and commercial email accounts and mobile devices, actions which could violate federal privacy laws.

The yearlong investigation, led by the Peace Corps Office of Inspector General and supported by the Federal Housing Finance Agency OIG, uncovered more than 1,000 unauthorized uses of government systems by Edd. Investigators executed a search warrant at his residence in November 2024 and seized electronic evidence. Edd retired from federal service shortly after, while the investigation was ongoing.

Edd is now charged with wire fraud, theft of government funds, and making false statements. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud, 10 years for theft, and 5 years for making false statements, along with potential fines and restitution. Authorities emphasized the importance of protecting taxpayer resources and maintaining public trust in the federal workforce, signaling continued efforts to prosecute such cases.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland

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