The university’s former men’s club volleyball coach plans to plead guilty to charges of fraud after allegedly paying for escort services with stolen credit cards and counterfeit checks, his attorney said.

Shang Hsiung, 54, said he stepped down from his coaching position after being charged with wire fraud last week. Federal authorities said Hsiung charged thousands of dollars on co-workers’ credit card numbers, which he used to pay for escort services.

Prosecutors said Hsiung, an employee of the U.S. Transportation Department, used his government computer and phone to arrange escort services for his business trips, according to charging documents. He was also accused of impersonating the vice president of a company, the name of which has not been released, and using counterfeit checks under the company’s name.

He is scheduled to appear in federal court next month and plans to plead guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, said G. Allen Dale, Hsiung’s attorney.

“We’re hopeful of getting some sort of probationary sentence,” he said. “He is a good man who has made some bad decisions in life, and he’s going to pay for it. We’re hopeful he’ll be able to get his life back together.”s

Hsiung, a Takoma Park resident, declined to comment according to his lawyer’s advice, he said. Hsiung was also placed on leave from the State Department, where he worked as a fuel cell technology specialist for the Transportation Department, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

“It doesn’t really make any sense to me,” said a member of the volleyball team who did not want his name printed because he had not yet spoken with Hsiung. “I still don’t really believe that it’s true.”

The team member said Hsiung has been his volleyball coach since he was 10 years old – from junior volleyball recreation leagues and through college. Hsiung teaches a variety of local juniors volleyball programs and is well-known for his skill, the player said.

“Anyone who knows anything about volleyball on the East Coast … knows who Shang is and respects him a lot,” the player said. “He’s by far the most knowledgeable person I know in terms of coaching volleyball.”

The player described the entire situation as “unbelievable,” adding that “this whole thing, if it is indeed true or whatever, is completely uncharacteristic of him. He always wanted his players to do the right thing. He was very into being responsible.”

He said Hsiung was an involved coach who invited the team over at the end of each season for a barbecue-style get together where they would watch videos from the season.

“I would certainly consider him a friend and a mentor,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact reporter Sara Murray at murraydbk@gmail.com.