Lawrence man bilks company of $687,000

Kansas City, Kan. – A Lawrence man has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of mail fraud in a scheme that allowed him to collect more than $650,000 from false expense claims.

U.S. Atty. Eric Melgren said Monday that Gene E. Abernathy, Lawrence, entered the guilty plea on June 17. In his plea, Abernathy admitted that he committed the crime while he was employed during March 1999 to February 2002 as an institutional sales representative for Pharmacia Corp., now Pfizer. He said he devised various schemes that allowed him to defraud the company of a total of approximately $686,905. He worked out of his home in Lawrence and was required to submit expense reports to his manager, who would certify them for payment. In one instance, in November 2001, Abernathy mailed a false expense report in the amount of $23,888.40 and forged the signature of his manager on the document.

Abernathy faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution of $686,905. Sentencing is set for Sept. 12.

Guard unit alerted

A Kansas Army National Guard unit based in Ottawa has been alerted for possible mobilization to be sent to Iraq.

About 150 soldiers of the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery with the First Battalion, 127th Field Artillery may be mobilized later this month, the Kansas Adjutant General’s office said.

The battery normally provides a variety of support for other batteries in a field artillery battalion. In Iraq, they will be providing force protection.

Lawrence students leaving for Great Race

Lawrence Auto Club members depart today for Washington, D.C., where they will participate in the Great Race, a cross-country motorsports competition.

The group of 11 students and graduates of Lawrence and Free State high schools will race a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air from the nation’s capital to Tacoma, Wa.

The race begins Saturday and is expected to run through July 9. The crews will not ride through Lawrence this year. The closest they will be is Omaha, Neb., on July 3. The team will compete for scholarships, and its sponsors include Lucas Oil, the Lawrence Regional Antique Automotive Association and Lawrence Diagnostics.