Oregon Woman Stole $211,000 From Fisheries Commission While Managing Its Finances

A 67-year-old woman who worked for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) in Portland pleaded guilty to stealing $211,000 from her employers for the premiums for her husband’s long-term care.

Pamela J. Kahut, who was employed as the Chief Financial Officer at PSMFC, stole the money between 2014 and 2020. She also used some of the proceeds to pay off her pension loans and her credit card bills.

Appearing in court on Thursday, evidence showed that Kahut, of Wilsonville, had stolen money from her employer’s health benefit trust account. Court documents revealed that Kahut had access to the trust account from which benefits and fees were paid for company employees covered by the health care program.

The PSMFC supports the fishery resources of five member states – Alaska, California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.

Kahut will be sentenced on 3 September before a U.S. Oregon district judge. She faces charges punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The FBI, together with the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General, investigated the case. The prosecutor is Robert Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.