KNOXVILLE, TN—On Dec. 18, 2014, Kevin Scott Thibault, 49, of Maryville, Tenn., was sentenced by the Honorable Pamela L. Reeves, U.S. District Judge, to serve 60 months in prison for forgery of the signatures of a district court judge and an officer of the U.S. District Court. Additionally, Judge Reeves ordered Thibault to serve 72 months in prison for mail fraud. These sentences will run concurrently. Thibault pleaded guilty in August 2014 to a two-count indictment charging him with the forgery counts and a one-count information charging him with mail fraud. Thibault was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $380,340.12. Upon his release from prison, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Thibault admitted to falsely representing himself as an attorney and agreeing to assist two individuals with the adoption of foster children in their custody. In May 2012, Thibault presented the individuals with fake adoption papers that he claimed had been filed in U.S. District Court, signed by U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan, and certified by U.S. District Court Officer Kathy Keeton. An investigation revealed that neither Judge Varlan nor Keeton signed the documents and the signatures were forged.

In October 2012, Thibault demanded that the individuals sign a power of attorney permitting him to represent their interest in the alleged adoption proceedings. However, the power of attorney actually allowed him to conduct certain financial transactions on their behalf. According to the plea agreement, through the course of this scheme, Thibault obtained at least $400,000 from the victims to further his scheme to defraud and obtain money.

This investigation was handled by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooklyn Sawyers represented the United States.