Former CDC supervisor stole more than $190,000 from agency

The blue and white sign of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention building in Atlanta
This April 1, 2025 photo shows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention building in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ben Gray, file)

ATLANTA — A former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supervisor pleaded guilty to stealing more than $190,000 in agency funds, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Gwendolyn Brandon, 43, of Cumming, Ga., pleaded guilty to theft of government funds and admitted to submitting fake invoices to the CDC.                                                                                        

“This defendant embezzled taxpayer money and brazenly exploited her position of public trust by fabricating invoices,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in a news release. “When she is sentenced later this year, she will pay the price for her greed and deception.”



From August 2023 to February 2025, Brandon created phony invoices that appeared to be from vendors. Those payments went into an account she controlled.

“She used her role as a supervisor and her knowledge of CDC’s invoice and credit card processing system to perpetrate the fraud by causing employees under her supervision, who were unaware of the fraud, to make the payments,” the news release said. “Through her scheme, she caused the CDC to pay at least 46 fraudulent invoices in amounts ranging from $2,230 to $9,970, resulting in the theft of $190,461.50 in government funds.”

Brandon’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

“As part of her plea agreement, Brandon agreed to resign from the CDC and never apply for employment with the federal government again, nor will she seek to do business with the federal government as a contractor or vendor,” the news release said.

This story was provided by WABE media partner Decaturish.