Posted on: September 15, 2025, 07:55h.
Last updated on: September 15, 2025, 09:53h.
- A former state employee in Washington will spend the next year and a half in prison for stealing almost $900K to gamble
- The judge went easy on the embezzler, saying addiction can make upstanding people do bad things
A former employee with the State of Washington will spend the next 18 months in prison for wire fraud in connection with his scheme to embezzle almost $900K to fund a severe gambling addiction.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington prosecuted Matthew Randall Ping, 48, on charges that he stole $878,115 while working as a management analyst within the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). In his position, Ping served as the department’s credit card custodian.
Federal prosecutors contended that Ping abused his access to the state’s credit cards, using what they described as a “sophisticated scheme” to embezzle “at least” $878,115 from the state agency. Ping agreed to a plea deal in June, telling law enforcement that he suffered from a severe gambling addiction.
Your crime was very serious but was driven by severe addiction. Gambling addiction can destroy the life of someone who is otherwise an upstanding citizen,” said US District Judge Tiffany Cartwright.
Cartwright sentenced Ping to 18 months in prison for wire fraud and subscribing a false tax return. Federal prosecutors asked for a 33-month prison sentence.
Criminal Claims Help Was Limited
Ping admitted to opening various payment processing accounts with display names that mimicked legitimate OAH business vendors.
During 2019 and 2021, financial records revealed that he secretly charged hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit transactions to the accounts, which he subsequently withdrew from to fund his gambling activities. Prosecutors said he made at least six trips to Las Vegas.
“He used this stolen taxpayer money to fuel his gambling habit, fund at least six trips to Las Vegas, pay off a luxury vehicle loan, and otherwise support his lifestyle. And, perhaps not surprisingly, he failed to report any of the income from his theft on his federal tax returns, which resulted in a tax loss of nearly $250,000,” said Assistant US Attorney Dane Westermeyer in seeking a harsher penalty.
Ping told the court he had tried to get help for his gambling addiction, but “resources for that addiction are very limited.”
After completing his year-and-a-half prison term, Ping will be on three years of supervised release. Cartwright also ordered him to be active in “advocating for services and regulations that would benefit those struggling with a gambling addiction.”
Ping agreed to pay full restitution to the state, its insurer, and the IRS — a total obligation of $1,118,362.
Gambling Addiction Resources
Ping argued that help for gambling addictions was limited.
Every state with legal gambling — and even some without — offers problem gambling resources. A good place to start for those seeking help for themselves, a family member, or a friend is the National Council on Problem Gambling’s 1-800-GAMBLER helpline and 1-800-GAMBLER website.
The nationwide home base for problem gambling, the NCPG provides 24/7, 365 days a year support to help connect problem gamblers or anyone seeking more information about the matter with local resources. Contacting 1-800-GAMBLER is confidential and anonymous.
Source link
