United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Pennsylvania

For Immediate Release: November 17, 2009

CLEARFIELD WOMAN CHARGED WITH FRAUDULENT RECEIPT OF STUDENT AID

Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, November 17, 2009, that Kimberly A. Kovall of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on a charge of fraudulent receipt of federal student aid funds.

The one-count indictment named Kovall, age 46, as the sole defendant..

According to the indictment presented to the court, on February 26, 2007, Kovall fraudulently obtained federal student aid benefits valued at more than $200.

Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $ 250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The United States Department of Education/Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.