Action Taken Against Oregon Couple Accused of Accepting Kickbacks

Monem was placed on administrative leave in January pending the outcome of the investigation.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - A state employee of more than 10 years has been fired over accusations of accepting $650,000 in kickbacks from a California food wholesaler.

Farhad "Fred" Monem was the food-purchasing manager for Oregon’s prison system, along with his wife, Karen Monem. They were charged with using the kickbacks to pay their mortgage, car payments, credit cards, membership in a golf club and other expenses, according to a search warrant affidavit filed by an IRS investigator in a U.S. District Court in Eugene.

Monem was placed on administrative leave in January pending the outcome of the investigation, according to Perrin Damon, spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections.

Investigators say the couple participated in a scheme where Monem used taxpayer funds to purchase large amounts of bulk and distressed food for Oregon prisoners from a Los Angeles based food distribution company.