From staff and AP reports

Donald Smith was former director of Graduate Institute

A former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employee has been indicted on federal embezzlement charges and made an initial court appearance Tuesday.

Donald Smith, 46, no address available, is accused of stealing more than $70,000 from the government.

Smith was indicted July 22 on two counts of “embezzling, stealing, purloining and converting to his own use money or other property belonging to the United States having a value of more than $1,000,” said a press release from the Jackson office of U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton.

Smith is the former director of the Engineer Research and Development Center Graduate Institute. He held that position from March 2005 until July 2006, said ERDC public affairs officer Wayne Stroupe.

Smith, of Vicksburg, resigned from ERDC in May 2007 to take a job in the private sector, said Stroupe. At the time, he was a research civil engineer and had more than 23 years of government service as a civilian employee.

Smith is accused of using government credit cards to purchase more than $56,000 in items for his personal use, the release said. Smith is also accused of collecting near $15,000 via fraudulent travel claims.

Attempts to reach Smith this morning were unsuccessful.

If convicted, Smith faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.

Special agents of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Vicksburg Fraud Resident Agency, participated in the investigation.