Home / Crime and Justice / Fugitive Researcher Pleads Guilty to $1M Grant Theft
Fugitive Researcher Pleads Guilty to $1M Grant Theft
1 Sep
Summary
- Danish researcher Poul Thorsen pleaded guilty to stealing over $1 million.
- Funds were intended for overseas autism and developmental research.
- Thorsen evaded capture for over 14 years before extradition.
Poul Thorsen, a 65-year-old Danish researcher, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to wire fraud, admitting to a scheme that defrauded the CDC of over $1 million. These federal grant funds were earmarked for critical overseas research concerning autism and developmental disabilities.
Thorsen, who previously worked as a visiting scientist at the CDC, served as the principal investigator for grants awarded between 2000 and 2009. He systematically stole funds from February 2004 through June 2008 by submitting more than a dozen fraudulent invoices with a forged signature.
These fraudulent submissions led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being transferred to Thorsen's personal credit union accounts. He used the stolen money for personal expenses, including purchasing property and vehicles. Thorsen evaded law enforcement for over 14 years, remaining in Denmark until his arrest in June 2025.
Following his extradition to the United States on May 7, Thorsen has been held without bail. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2026. Federal authorities emphasized their commitment to prosecuting those who exploit public research funds for personal gain.
