Former SRS worker sentenced

A former Savannah River Site worker has been sentenced to five years of probation, including six months home confinement, for charges related to making false statements to the Department of Energy.

On Feb. 1, 2010, Joseph Ralph Lohre Jr. pleaded guilty to making false statements in connection with an application for Long Term Temporary Assignment (LTTA) benefits - these payments are funded by the United States government, and are designed to offset living costs for skilled tradespersons who accept temporary employment at government facilities where persons with such skills are in short supply.

In order to qualify, an employee must incur living expenses both at the job site and at a qualifying primary residence. During his guilty plea, Lohre admitted that between March 2006 and May 2008, he was employed by a contractor at the Savannah River Site. He lived in the Aiken area, and he falsely stated that he was incurring dual living expenses at a residence in Fort Mitchell, Ky. The Fort Mitchell residence actually belonged to a relative, and Lohre was not incurring any expenses at this location.

In March 2008, Lohre submitted an altered tax bill in support of a renewal of his LTTA benefits. The bill was for unimproved property near Newberry, but Lohre altered it to make it appear that it documented his claim that he owned the Fort Mitchell property. As a result of his fraudulent application for LTTA benefits, Lohre received $72,162.68 between March 2006 and May 2008. He has repaid part of those moneys, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. However, he was sentenced to pay restitution in the amount of $51,259.05.

Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com.