Man pleads guilty to stealing Marriott Rewards Points | Crime

Montgomery, AL--On October 16, 2012, James Whitaker, 59, of Prattville, Alabama, pled guilty to one count of participating in an act which affected a personal financial interest, announced United States Attorney, George L. Beck, Jr.

            Whitaker was an employee of the Air Force Legal Operating Agency.  As an employee, Whitaker directed those attending courses held on Maxwell Air Force Base to stay at the Renaissance Hotel, in Montgomery, Alabama, instead of staying on Base or at other approved housing.  Whitaker arranged for the attendees to stay at the Renaissance, a Marriott Hotel, in order for Whitaker to personally receive Marriott Rewards Points.  From January 27, 2011, until June 23, 2011, Whitaker personally received 100,000 Marriott Rewards Points, which according to Marriott International has a value of $1,250.00.

            “This law is in place to ensure the proper handling of government money and to prevent government employees from making government transactions to benefit themselves instead of benefitting the government,” stated U.S. Attorney Beck.  “We don’t want our government employees making governmental decisions based on how it will affect their personal finances.  We want our government employees to make governmental decisions based on what is best for their governmental agency or department.”

            This case was investigated by Air Force Office of Special Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brent Woodall. 

Information Source: U.S. Department of Justice