A 69-year-old New Orleans man has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of theft of government funds.
U.S Attorney Jim Letten's office says Robert P. McFarland entered the plea Thursday before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon.
McFarland, as executive director of New Orleans Educational Talent Search Program, Inc., admitted embezzling federal program funds of up to $400,000 from 2001 through 2004. According to court documents, he wrote hundreds of checks on the program's accounts to himself or to cash, obtained numerous cash advances on the program's credit cards and made cash withdrawals from accounts tied to the program.
McFarland faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution at sentencing set for Nov. 15.