On March 31, 2003, Shawn P. Kieffer, a former project supervisor for a
NASA contractor, was indicted on federal charges of theft of government
property and making a false statement.

Kieffer allegedly stole a NASA-owned Tektronic 495P spectrum analyzer
valued at more than $10,000 in 1999. NASA uses spectrum analyzers to
measure radio frequency signals (RF). Kieffer later sold the analyzer on eBay,
but told investigators he had not stolen it and did not know where it was.

Kieffer is currently serving concurrent one-year sentences in Galveston
County Jail in Texas, after pleading guilty in January to three
unrelated theft charges.

This investigation was conducted by the NASA Office of Inspector
General and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Police
Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha Minnis, Southern District
of Texas, Houston, Texas, is handling the prosecution.

For more information on this release, please contact Joseph Kroener,
Acting Executive Officer, NASA Office of Inspector General, at (202)
358-2558.