2025

Nikhil Parekh, 37, of Randallstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the theft and sale of hundreds of government-issued smartphones, laptop computers, and other IT devices that had been slated for destruction.

The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Chief J. Thomas Manger of the U.S. Capitol Police, and USAID Special Agent in Charge Sean Bottary of the USAID Office of Inspector General.

The week of January 20th, Paul Martin, Inspector General (IG) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), led an Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG) delegation to Israel. The purpose of the trip was to further USAID OIG’s independent oversight of USAID-funded humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’ terrorist attacks in Israel, the United States has provided over $1.2 billion in humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people with at least $641 million of this aid programmed by USAID.