Scott Carpenter, a former FBI agent, was sentenced to spend 90 days in custody after gambling away $13,000 in government funds in Las Vegas. According to local authorities, Carpenter placed several bets at a blackjack table in the Bellagio, averaging $700 a hand.
According to court records, Carpenter and three other agents traveled from the New York City FBI office to Las Vegas during July 2017 and brought $135,000 cash with them as part of a public corruption probe. The funds were intended to be used to pay “bribes” to operation suspects and to cover general expenses.
Court records also revealed that Carpenter “drank a six-pack of beer and nearly an entire bottle of vodka by himself.”
Carpenter admitted to taking government funds recovered during an undercover operation to place his bets.
Assistant US Attorney Dan Schiess said Carpenter tried to pay back the money after he self-reported the misuse of funds.
Carpenter’s father, Frank, sent Navarro a letter asking for leniency, claiming his son’s alcohol use was in response to post-traumatic stress that stemmed from two activite-duty tours in Iraq during his time in the Army.
Frank Carpenter currently holds a position as a New Jersey municipal judge.
He said in the letter: “The same country that exposed my son to PTSD is now punishing him for exhibiting symptoms of PTSD.”
However, US District Judge Gloria Navarro issued the 90-day sentence despite the prosecution’s request for probation and Carpenter’s letter asking for leniency. Navarro said this type of conduct from federal officers “undermines the community’s trust in law enforcement.”
During sentencing, Carpenter expressed remorse and said he was a “better, smarter and more self-aware person” after receiving treatment. Carpenter said he understands he has let his colleagues down and committed to “not let something like this happen again.”
