MISREPRESENTATION OF ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS BY A TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER (2010-10014-IG)

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06627998
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 17, 2024
• Document Release Date: November 15, 2024
• Case Number: F-2013-02114
• Publication Date: February 15, 2013

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Inspector General
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
(IMPEWOT MISREPRESENTATION OF ACADEMIC
CREDENTIALS BY A TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
(2010-10014-IG)
15 February 2013
David B. Buckley
Inspector General
NOTICE: The information in this report
is covered by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. � 552a,
and should be handled accordingly.
Assistant nspector General
for Investigations
Special Agent
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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Office of Inspector General
Investigations Staff
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
(U/X41:113) MISREPRESENTATION OF ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS BY
A TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
(2010-10014-IG)
15 February 2013
(R) Section A � Subject:
(U) Section B � Predication:
2. (C) Based on a separate 2008 United States Secret Service (USSS) investigation that
identified an Agency contractor as possessing a degree from a known unaccredited higher
education institution, OIG initiated a proactive investigation on 5 August 2008 into Agency staff
claiming degrees from non-accredited institutions. OIG matched a list of unaccredited
institutions against Agency BIO information to identify any individuals who had provided degree
evidence to Human Resources (HR). One of the individuals identified
claimed bachelor's and master's degrees from
an unaccredited institution, on her Agency BIO.
(b)(1)
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(U) Section C � Potential Violations:
3. (U) Title 18 U.S.C. � 287 (False, fictitious or fraudulent claims) provides in pertinent
part:
Whoever makes or presents to any person or officer in the civil, military or naval services
of the United States, or to any department or agency thereof, any claim upon or against
the United States, or any department or agency thereof, knowing such claim to be false,
fictitious, or fraudulent, shall be imprisoned not more than five years and shall be subject
to a fine in the amount provided in this title.
4. (U) Title 18 U.S.C. � 1001 (Fraud and False Statements, Statements or entries
generally) provides in pertinent part:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the
jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of
the United States, knowingly and willfully-
(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation;
or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any
materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry; shall be fined under
this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.. . .
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(U) Section D � Investigative Results:
5. (U) (Exhibit A)
was an unaccredited higher education institution
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
was one of four institutions highlighted as a
"diploma mill" in the 2004 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, Diploma Mills:
Federal Government Employees Have Obtained Degrees from Diploma Mills and Other
Unaccredited Schools, Some at Government Expense.' The GAO report found that
(b)(1) federal employees had received unaccredited degrees from and that would
(b)(3) c 1A4ctructure" their payment requirements to meet federal reimbursement requirements.
b)(3) NatSecAct
b)(6)
'b)(7)(c)
te)-111
unaware of
interview; that her HR office was similarly unaware of
aware of the 2004 GAO report.
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
6 June 2011 comments in response to the Draft Report, claimed that she was
accredited status until informed by OIG agents during her 4 November 2008
unaccredited status; and that she was not
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(b)(6) , (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) associate's degree
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required to write a single paper3 for their advanced degrees, with no actual classes reauired_(b)(6)
Students paid a one-time flat fee for tuition.
as transfer credit, up to two-thirds of the credit hours required for a degree. Students were
never accredited by any accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of
Education.4
supervisors' understanding of her pursuit and receipt of degrees in her accomplishments.
3 lece)-In her 6 June 2011 comments in response to the Draft Report,
2 iks in her 6 June 2011 comments in response to the Draft Report,
4 (U / /rInti4;9. Per 20 U.S.C. � 1099b (Recognition of accrediting agency or association), the Secretary of
5 (U/ /1.0140)-The original review was performed on the backend database for the BIO system. A human
knowledge of
Education is responsible for recognizing accrediting bodies, which in turn recognize institutions.
readable BIO profile was generated on 21 September 2009 for inclusion in the report.
conferred in
6. (U) (Exhibit A)
7.
8. -�C-} (Exhibit C) A review by OIG of
signed each of these PARs. The PAR statements are as follows:
Exhibit B) An Au st 2008 review of the Agency BIO system showed that
(b)(7)(c)
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(b)(1) US law does not recognize any such equivalence.
offered degrees ranging from bachelor's degrees to doctorates
in business management.
respectively.5 Additionally,\
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(6)
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
provided students with credit for life experience as well (b)(7)(C)
having received her last degree in
(b)(6)
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3 (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(1)
PARs indicate her various
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
stated that she had no
stated that
BIO showed an
CIA/OIG Loan Copy (b)(6)
conferred in
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(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3) NatSecAct
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(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
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was
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9. -ZS). (Exhibit D) A review by OIG of submissions to human resources
showed that highlighted her degrees and falsely claimed pursuing and obtaining
degrees. Specifically:
(b)(1)
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(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAc
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(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
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(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
10. kel (Exhibit E) A review by OIG of internal job applications showed
falsely reported obtaining and pursuing degrees.8 Specifically:
that
(b)(1)
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(b)(7)(c)
(b)(1)
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5
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(b)(1)
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(b)(1)
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(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
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(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(6) (b)(7)(c)
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(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
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(b)(1)
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that
11. (g On 20 October 2008, OIG verified through their respective verification services
or the
had never enrolled in or attended
OIG confirmed that
but did not receive a degree.
attended
12. During a 14 November 2008 interview with OIG stated that she was
unaware that
during the interview. According to never informed her that it was not accredited
or that it was seeking accreditation. stated that she was very upset to learn her degrees
are not accredited. related that she selected
was a non-accredited institution and that she had learned this for the first time
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
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(b)(1)
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(b)(1)
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(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) 13. tC--..(Exhibit F) Subse uent to the DIG interview, provided documentation
from her personal files related to The documents show that was admitted to
on and completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree on
The documents further reflect that she was admitted to on
completed the requirements for a master of science degree (b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(6)
(b)(6) (b)(7)(c
14. -t�4.. During her interview with OIG, sta u. L) i u ciie Agency reimbursed her
(b)(7)(c) for all classes and that all of her classes were reimbursed.
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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ku)ko) lalt-VALA.
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(b)(6) (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(6) (b)(7)(c)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
and
stated that she did not recollect the cost of her degrees.
her master's degree cost $2,002, but she was not able to locate the cost of her bachelor's degree.
DIG was unable to determine how much had been reimbursed because vouchers are
purged after six years.
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAc
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NatSecAct
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(b)(6)
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15. -(-C-4- A review by OIG of
background investigation),
degree. A review by OIG of the report on
14 August 2000 showed that she reported receiving a master's degree
her bachelor's degree listing and reported that the Agency paid for it.'u
n her SPHS, -1
3rovided documentation that
SPHS/Form 444E (submitted as part of her
showed that she did not include her master's
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
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16. ie.} (Exhibit G) A review by OIG of
(b)(6) (b)(6) (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(c)
interview with an OS investigator on
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(1)
(b)(3) C IAAc
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
includ(131((31)) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAc
(b)(6)
personnel filed showed that on (b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
17. "rei� A review by OIG of the GSE pay scale showed that the scale starts at GSE-07/1
and is phased out at GSE-13/10. The GSE pay scale provides higher with a
mandatory requirement that they hold a BS (b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
944 In her 6 June 2011 comments in response to the Draft Report (b)(7)(cyated again that she was
unaware of the status of her degree at the time of the interview.
I� -{C�t-In her 6 June 2011 comments in response to the Draft Report, stated, "at no time did I
falsely state on official documents or OS background investigator that I had obtained degrees from
. OIG reviewed the handwritten notes of the OS background investigator to ensure there
were no transcription errors. The notes state that
in two separate places during the interview.
I1-(C---)- There was no evidence found in
additional education; however,
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAc
(b)(6)
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(b)(6)
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security file of a background investigator evaluating the
received a master's degree from
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1(b)(1)
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18. -(-C--} (Exhibit G) A review of OIG of
noted
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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personnel filed showed that
Copy
C�P:(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
19. -EC--)- (Exhibit H) An OIG review of written panel notes showed that panel raters
(U) Section E � Investigative Summary:
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
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(b)(6)
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(b)(1)
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(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
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(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
20. -(�4. OIG referred the allegations and investigative findings regarding to the
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) on 12 March 2009 for possible
violation of Titles 18 U.S.C. � 287 (False, fictitious or fraudulent claims) and/or Title 18 U.S.C.
� 1001 (Fraud and False Statements, Statements or entries generally). EDVA declined
prosecution on 22 December 2009 in favor of administrative action.
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
21. .4E-1- OIG's investigation showed that made numerous false statements
claiming various academic credentials from
and the OIG confirmed never enrolled at any of the
aforementioned institutions. Additionally, claimed a degree from
that she did not obtain, made statements in job applications, PAR
accomplishments, and resumes in apparent violation of Title 18 U.S.C. � 1001 and OIG believes
they directly profited career.
22. (C) OIG's investi ation showed that
reimbursement for her degrees
of the requirement that the degree be from an accredited institution.
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(1) (b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(6) (b)(6)
(b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(c)
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
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(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
requested and received Agency (b)(6)
inclusion in AR 18-1 (CIA University - General) (b)(7)(c)
(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
12 terOIG's investigation showed that was converted to the GSE pay schedule, resulting in an increase in
her annual salary starting in to which she was not entitled, based in part on her false statement that she wa
currently enrolled
13 (U) The evaluation sheet was labeled
and
(b)(3) CIAAct
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positions.
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
but the same evaluation sheet was used for both the
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(u) Section F � Recommendations:
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(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(5)
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(b)(7)(c)
(b)(3)
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(U) Section G � Exhibits:
A. (U) GAO Report GAO-04-771T. Federal Employees Have Obtained Degrees from
Diploma Mills and Other Unaccredited Schools, Some at Government Expense
B. .�,Fs)P BIO
C. Performance Appraisals (b)(1)
D. Vej HR Submissions (b)(3) CIAAct
E. Job Applications (b)(3) NatSecAct
F. f,e) Transcripts (b)(6)
G. .(.. Request to Transfer to GSE Pay Scale (b)(7)(c)
H. .(.81 Panel Notes
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(b)(1)
(b)(3) CIAAct
(b)(3) NatSecAct
(b)(6)
(b)(7)(c)
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