A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer stationed in Canada has been charged with three counts of theft for allegedly pocketing more than $58,000 in housing and educational reimbursements for his children. Daniel Lerchbacker, 35, was charged with making false representations to CBP, concealing material facts investigators and converting federal funds to his own use.
Lerchbacker, who allegedly submitted false copies of checks to CBP, was arraigned today in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas in Houston. While stationed in Canada as a CBP officer from December 2015 and December 2017, he allegedly received U.S. foreign monetary allowances to lease his home and for private school for his kids.
“During this time, Lerchbacker received the full amount of federal funds that he requested for these expenses, but Lerchbacker allegedly failed to pay a property management company and two private schools a total of approximately $54,460.99 CAD ($40,774.94 USD),” according to the Justice Department. “Additionally, Lerchbacker allegedly requested, collected, and retained from the United States approximately $24,230.50 CAD ($18,241 USD) in advance funds for educational expenses for his children while knowing that he was to leave Canada before the end of the school year.”
