A 47-year-old Avondale man has pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by an employee of the United States, federal authorities said.

In September 2023, after 16 years working with the Drug Enforcement administration, Scott P. Knox embezzled more than $75,000 from a DEA vault to which he had access and control by virtue of his position as a mission support specialist and account technician with the DEA in Phoenix, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

His responsibilities included safeguarding the DEA Imprest Fund, which is a designated cash reserve for managing recurring DEA expenses, including operational funds used by agents in the field, the release stated, adding “Knox admitted that he deliberately stole $75,546 in cash from the Imprest Fund secure room.”

Knox attempted to conceal his actions from the DEA, but his embezzlement was uncovered during an internal audit the DEA conducted in March 2024, according to the release.

A conviction carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a term of three years of supervised release.

Knox will be sentenced Jan. 6 by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.