News Summary
Keith Pilawski and Edwin Ortiz, former officials at MacDill Air Force Base, have pleaded guilty to conspiring in a fraudulent scheme that involved over $150,000 related to the base’s intramural sports program. Their actions, which spanned over 15 years, included manipulating officiating duties and inflated payments. Both face significant penalties and have agreed to forfeit large sums as part of their plea agreements. The fraudulent activities were uncovered by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, leading to legal proceedings against them.
Tampa, Florida
Two former officials at MacDill Air Force Base, Keith Pilawski and Edwin Ortiz, have pleaded guilty to a conspiracy involving over $150,000 in a fraudulent scheme related to the base’s intramural sports program. Pilawski, 63, and Ortiz, 58, admitted to their roles in defrauding the program, which been ongoing for more than 15 years, from at least 2009 to 2024.
Both individuals face a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in federal prison. As part of their plea agreements, Pilawski has committed to forfeit $67,183, while Ortiz will forfeit $163,300.
Details of the Fraud Scheme
The intramural sports program at MacDill, funded by congressionally appropriated U.S. Air Force funds, employs outside contractors for officiating games. The maximum allowable cost for officiating a sport each season is capped at $5,000. Court documents reveal that Pilawski, who had been the director of the sports program after retiring from military service in 2006, manipulated the system by scheduling games around Ortiz’s availability, thereby funneling officiating duties towards Ortiz’s company.
Documents indicate that Pilawski authorized payments to Ortiz for services that were either not included in his contract or not performed at all. In a blatant abuse of the system, Ortiz returned a portion of these inflated payments to Pilawski. Furthermore, on occasions, Pilawski also served as a referee for Ortiz, receiving payments from both the Air Force and Ortiz’s company, leading to a practice known as double-dipping.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, which found that the duo had embezzled more than $150,000 from the intramural sports program. The findings prompted legal action from U.S. prosecutors, with the case being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.
No sentencing date has been scheduled for Pilawski and Ortiz, leaving the legal resolution of the case pending.
Background on MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base serves as a critical operations hub for the U.S. military’s missions in the Middle East and supports the housing of over 13,000 military and civilian personnel. The intramural sports program is an integral part of the base’s community engagement, providing recreational activities for service members and civilians alike.
Further highlighting the contrasts in the life experiences of the two involved, Ortiz’s legal representation has indicated that he is a highly decorated retired non-commissioned officer with over 23 years of service in the Air Force. Ortiz has reportedly cooperated fully with the investigation. In contrast, no comments from Pilawski’s attorney have been received regarding the case.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Hoodline: Lutz and Brandon Men Plead Guilty to Stealing Over $150,000 from MacDill AFB Sports Program
- Miami Herald: Guilty Pleas from MacDill AFB Officials
- Business Observer: Air Force Kickback Scheme
- Military.com: Stolen Valor and Military Ethics
- WFLA: No Airshow at MacDill AFB This Weekend
- Wikipedia: MacDill Air Force Base
- Google Search: MacDill Air Force Base Fraud
- Google Scholar: MacDill Air Force Base Intramural Sports Program
- Encyclopedia Britannica: MacDill Air Force Base
- Google News: MacDill Air Force Base Fraud
Author: STAFF HERE TAMPA WRITER
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