The local couple accused of using nearly $400,000 in federal money to  pay their credit cards, buy supplies for their business and pay off loans, were today sentenced to probation by the federal court in Washington D.C, according to a U.S. Justice Department spokesman.

John Emil Kruse - who is also American Samoa government’s director of the Procurement Office - and his wife Elaine Gurr Kruse were charged last October for converting federal money awarded to them under Section 1602 low income housing program for their personal and business use.

The charge against John Kruse was made prior to when he took the post of chief procurement officer overseeing the Procurement Office in early 2013

U.S. Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr told Samoa News this morning that the Kruses “pleaded guilty and each defendant was sentenced to 48 months of probation with eight months home confinement. They were ordered to pay $399,936.48 in restitution.”

There was no immediately reaction from attorneys for the defendants.

See tomorrow’s edition for more information.