PORTLAND, Ore. — A Wilsonville woman and former senior official with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing more than $211,000 from an employee health benefit account she managed, the U.S. Department of Justice announced this week.
Pamela J. Kahut, 68, who once served as the commission’s chief financial officer, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, she was ordered to pay $211,083.27 in restitution and a $10,000 fine for her crimes.
A Years-Long Scheme
Federal prosecutors said Kahut misused her authority between October 2014 and September 2020, diverting funds from the commission’s employee health benefit trust account for personal use. Investigators found that she:
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Paid long-term care insurance premiums for her spouse,
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Covered personal credit card bills, and
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Repaid pension loans using money from the account.
The health benefit trust was designed to provide coverage for commission employees and was funded in part through federal grant money. Instead of safeguarding those resources, Kahut repeatedly siphoned funds for her own expenses over the course of six years.
Officials emphasized that her actions did not only represent a betrayal of public trust but also jeopardized a fund that was supposed to protect the health and well-being of employees who dedicated their careers to fisheries management.
Federal Charges and Guilty Plea
Kahut was formally charged with Theft in Connection with Health Care on April 8, 2025. Facing strong evidence gathered during a multi-agency investigation, she pleaded guilty on June 5, 2025.
Her sentence, handed down in federal court, reflects both the seriousness of the theft and her cooperation in admitting guilt. Prosecutors argued that the restitution order was critical in making sure stolen taxpayer and employee funds were repaid in full.
Multi-Agency Investigation
The case was the result of a joint investigation by:
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
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The U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, and
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The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Trisotto led the prosecution. In a statement, the Department of Justice praised the coordinated effort that brought the long-running theft to light and ensured accountability.
About the Fisheries Commission
The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, headquartered in Portland, was established in 1947 as an interstate compact agency. It works across five states — California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska — to coordinate management of Pacific Ocean resources.
The commission plays a vital role in:
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Supporting state and federal resource agencies,
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Partnering with the commercial fishing industry, and
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Ensuring sustainable management of fisheries and marine ecosystems.
As a financial executive within such an organization, Kahut was entrusted with ensuring the integrity of employee health funds. Prosecutors stressed that her decision to exploit her role for personal gain was a significant breach of fiduciary duty.
Sentencing Sends a Message
Federal officials said the case serves as a reminder that abuse of public funds will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted. With the trust account funded partly by federal grants, Kahut’s theft amounted to misuse of taxpayer dollars — money that should have supported employees rather than private expenses.
While Kahut will serve less than a year behind bars, prosecutors highlighted that the combination of prison time, restitution, fines, and supervised release underscores the seriousness of her actions.
For the employees of PSMFC, the sentencing closes a troubling chapter. The commission, which relies heavily on public confidence to carry out its mission, now has the opportunity to rebuild trust and continue its essential work managing fisheries across the Pacific states.
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