Two U.S. military retirees, including the longtime intramural sports director at a Central Florida Air Force Base, stole more than $150,000 from the base's sports program over 15 years, federal prosecutors said.
Keith Pilawski, 63, who led the program at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa since 2006, and Edwin Ortiz, 58, a government contractor who provided referees to officiate intramural games through his company, are now facing prison time, according to prosecutors. Ortiz also officiated several of the games.
Pilawski and Ortiz defrauded the sports program from 2009 until 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida said in an Aug. 20 news release.
Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In doing so, Pilawski agreed to forfeit $67,183 and Ortiz agreed to forfeit $163,300, "the proceeds of criminal conduct," prosecutors said.
Defense attorney Anthony B. Rickman, who represents Ortiz, told McClatchy News on Aug. 21 that "Ortiz is a highly decorated (retired) non-commissioned officer of the United States Air Force who proudly served our country for over 23 years."
"For the last 15 years Mr. Ortiz has officiated thousands of intramural games at MacDill Air Force Base," Rickman said in an emailed statement, adding that Ortiz "was fully cooperative with the investigation, accepted responsibility for his role in the offense, acknowledged his guilt, paid restitution and satisfied the forfeiture in full."
Pilawski's attorney did not return a request for comment.
At MacDill Air Force Base, active-duty airmen and other personnel can participate in the year-round intramural sports program, which prosecutors said is supported by "congressionally appropriated Air Force funds."
Pilawski became the program's director in 2006 following his military retirement, according to court documents.
"The way the system was supposed to work was that at the beginning of each intramural sports season, Pilawski would recruit teams, set the games schedule, and then determine the number officials needed based on the number of teams and games scheduled," prosecutors explained in court filings. "PILAWSKI was expected to use active-duty members to meet officiating needs before relying on officials/referees provided by outside contractors, such as Ortiz."
When active-duty personnel could not officiate the games, Pilawski was responsible for finding referees for one of two approved government contractors, including Ortiz and his company, court documents say.
"Instead of selecting the least expensive contractor, Pilawski steered all officiating duties to Ortiz's company, and scheduled games around Ortiz's schedule," prosecutors said.
As part of the scheme, Pilawski also worked for Ortiz as a referee, according to prosecutors, who said he was "double-dipping" because he was paid by Ortiz while also receiving his Air Force salary.
Pilawski approved payments for Ortiz for services unrelated to his government contract, as well as services that were "not even performed," resulting in Ortiz being overpaid, prosecutors said.
Pilawski and Ortiz lied about the number of games that had been officiated in invoices and paperwork they prepared, leading to Ortiz receiving more money than he was owed, according to court documents.
Ortiz would pay Pilawski money that came from the overpayments, prosecutors said.
Rickman, on Ortiz's behalf, told McClatchy News that "we are hopeful that at Mr. Ortiz's sentencing the Court will consider his distinguished military career, his personal characteristics, his extraordinary payments of restitution/forfeiture, and his acceptance of responsibility when determining an appropriate sentence."
Pilawski and Ortiz were investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Their sentencing hearings have not been scheduled as of Aug. 20.
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