A former National Science Foundation senior employee has pleaded guilty to lying about money he earned from an engineering education nonprofit he founded.

Potomac resident Win Aung, 72, wrote on financial disclosure forms and tax returns that money he received from the International Network for Engineering Education and Research, known as iNEER, was used for reimbursement for iNEER-related expenses. He said on the forms that he received no compensation from the nonprofit.

But prosecutors said Aung actually used the funds — which totaled more than $800,000 from 2002 to 2007 — for his personal benefit, including family vacations, gifts and housing costs.

Aung pleaded guilty to making a false statement and to filing a false tax return. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 17 and could receive up to eight years in prison.

Aung worked at NSF for 35 years and resigned in September 2010.