New York:
An Indian man who worked for billionaire Warren Buffet's charitable foundation has pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from the organization and could face up to 20 years in prison.
Dhaval Patel, 38, is scheduled to be sentenced in November and faces up to five years of probation or 20 years in prison for stealing US $ 46,000 from the charity.
Patel worked as an international monitor for the Buffett Foundation and travelled extensively around the world to monitor programmes that had received funds from the foundation.
The Omaha World-Herald reported that he made USD 190,000 a year as a senior programme officer.
He however fabricated several receipts for overnight stays, meals and travel and sought reimbursement from the charity for those purported "expenses".
Foundation officials grew suspicious of his expenses and informed federal authorities.
Police said during one instance a foundation employee checked with a London hotel from which Patel had submitted a receipt for reimbursement and found that Patel had not stayed there.
Patel had submitted tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent receipts for reimbursement.
He has paid back USD 46,000 in restitution to the charity.