Alaska State Library Manager
Suspected of Embezzlement
State officials are investigating whether a former administrative manager for the Alaska State Library in Juneau stole nearly $250,000 from the library in order to purchase illegal drugs. Gary Martin, who has been in charge of the library’s equipment purchases for the past 10 years, was relieved of his duties in early November after he was arrested on four felony counts of illegally obtaining prescription drugs and possessing illegal assault weapons, the Juneau Empire reported November 19.
At a bail hearing November 18, Alaska Department of Education Finance Officer Brenda O’Donnell testified that her audit indicated that Martin may have embezzled $246,184 from the library by creating phony purchase orders from fictitious companies located at a post office box in his name and using a state credit card to make Internet purchases. Police Officer John Boltjes said that Martin allegedly spent as much as $41,000 of the money between May and October to purchase prescription painkillers that are sometimes used as street drugs.
Law enforcement offcials are considering charging Martin with first-degree felony theft. His trial on drug and weapons charges is scheduled for February 10.
Posted November 25, 2002.
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