MISREPRESENTATION OF ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS AND FALSE STATEMENTS BY A PROCUREMENT OFFICER

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628000
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 17, 2024
• Document Release Date: November 15, 2024
• Case Number: F-2013-02114
• Publication Date: August 5, 2008

Approved for Release: 2024/11/08 C06628000
UNCLASSIFIED/ Ameer
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
MEMORANDUM TO FILE
(CASE CLOSING MEMORANDUM)
(U//4440) I. ADMINISTRATIVE DATA
Case No: 2011-10145
Case Title: Misrepresentation of Academic Credentials and False
Statements by a Procurement Officer
Investigator:
Date Received: 8/5/2008
Date Assigned: 8/5/2008
Supervisor:
Date Opened: 8/5/2008
Case Type: Fl
(U//A-WO) II. SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATIVE ACTIONS
(U/41A1443) BACKGROUND
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1. (U/M-14:461 Based on a separate 2008 United States Secret Service
investigation that identified an Agency contractor as possessing a degree
from a known unaccredited higher education institution, the Office of
Inspector General (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. One of the individuals identified,
claimed a bachelor's degree from an
unaccredited institution, on her Agency BIO.
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Inspector
General. It is the property of the CIA/01G and neither the document nor its contents should be disseminated without prior IG
authorization.
Revision Date: 8 February 2013
UNCLASSIFIED/ /-Aantr
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non-profit organization open to anyone able to pay the required fee.
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2. (U/ /-A-Fblej- On 9 September 2008, OIG reviewed
personnel and security files conducted open source research on
obtained records of reimbursements. OIG interviewed
regarding the allegations.
3. (U//AIU0) On 12 March 2009, OIG referred the allegations and
investigative findings regarding to the U.S. Attorney's Office,
Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) 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.
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(U/tAlUe) III. FINDINGS
4. (U/ /-Aitiet
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is an unaccredited
web site states that
institution
it does
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not accept
federal funding. provides
bachelor's, master's,
and doctoral
(b)(6)
degrees through distance
learning,
and has neither a physical campus nor (b)(7)(c)
faculty. E_lis a
pay-per-degree program that
requires
its students to
pay approximately $5,000
for a bachelor's degree.
E listudents
enroll (b)(6)
in classes as directed by the school and must purchase
a textbook
from (b)(7)(c)
for each class, formerly
claimed
accreditation by the World Association of Universities and Colleges, an (b)(6)
accreditation mill, no longer claims accreditation, but rather (b)(7)(c)
claims a membership in the United States Distance Learning Association, a
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5. (U/ /4riee)- According to Agency records,
was
reimbursed by the Agency for her education at
on three separate (b)(3) CIAAct
occasions:
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� 9 January 2006 - $512.02
� 3 February 2006 - $519.32
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� 18 May 2006 - $520
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UNCLASSIFIED/ /
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6. (U/ / On or about August 2006, presented Human
Resources (HR) with a copy of her diploma from to be placed on
her Agency BIO. did not submit a copy of her transcripts to HR,
but provided a copy to OIG investigators when requested.
transcript indicates
is not regionally accredited and does not accept federal funding."
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7.(u/46rieei) the
date of first reimbursement, indicated "The World Association of
Universities and Colleges is a private accrediting body not listed with any
government agency or the U.S. Department of Education and is not
designed to meet the needs of students intending to use Federal Funds."
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8. (U! /.@) During her 9 September 2008 OIG interview,
stated that she profited from her degree by moving from a procuremen
officer position to a position that had more
responsibilities, more challenging work, and a higher pay grade.
stated that she applied to a master's program at
According to informed her that she was not eligible to
apply because her degree was unaccredited. stated that
she did not inform her management when she learned her degree was not
accredited.
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(b)(6) 9. (U//....646Teej From 12 June 2005 to 29 October 2006,
(b)(7)(c)
as a procurement officer, which does not require a degree.
employee BIO listed her as having a bachelor's degree in Business
Administration from On 29 October 2006, IlIwas promoted
to the position of which requires a degree.
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served
10. (U/ /-A-14449)- On 12 April 2009, was removed by her
component from the position of and returned to the role
of a procurement officer, which does not require a degree, after OIG
briefed the component as to her degree status. omponent
ensured that were entered into by inder false
pretenses were subsequently ratified.
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UNCLASSIFIED/ AA-Fie--
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UNCLASSIFIED/ /4srieer
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11. (U //..A OIG has not developed any evidence to
confirm that in fact knew that was an
unaccredited institution at the time she submitted her reimbursement
claims or when she provided her diploma to HR for
inclusion in her Agency BIO information.
12. (U//...14e)- Between 9 January and 18 May 2006,
received reimbursement from the Agency for academic degree
training from an unaccredited institution in the amount of $1,551.34.
The Agency approved her funding in violation of AR 18-1 (CIA
University � General), which is dated 21 April 2004 and was therefore
in effect at the time the Agency reimbursed AR 18-1 requires
that any academic training that is reimbursed by the Agency must
meet certain criteria, including be accredited and provided by a
nationally recognized accrediting bod , as identified by the
Department of Education. As such, was improperly
reimbursed for the costs of academic degree training that did not
satisfy the necessary requirement under AR 18-1.
13. (U//-Aii:Jej- OIG has prepared a separate memorandum
recommending the Director for Support establish a debt for
the amount of $1,551.34. Because disciplinary action has already
been taken by
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(b)(7)(c) (UHA4e0) IV. REVIEW AND APPROVAL
component by removing her from a
position, this matter is being closed.
Case Investigator:_
Sign and Date
Approved by Supervisor:
sign and uate
UNCLASSIFIED/ M&
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