. for Personal Gain
Government Property
1, Inhe Office of Security conducted an Investigation into the sale of misprinted stamps purchased with Agency funds. It was determined that the actonversion7. Government property for personal gain. Theemployees were identified as follows:
1
and
The Director of action was warranted for degree ofithout payor one day without pay. reprimanded verbally for The results of the inves General Counsel for poss Justice. The Office of of tbe results of the in action.
determined that disciplinary all nine employees. Based uponas suspended for three days
and were each suspended
"Tne other six employees were their involvement In the conversion, tlgation were provided to the Office of ible referral to the Department of the Inspector General was also apprised vestlgation and subsequent disciplinary
were briefed on responses to pussiuie
n article In the Washington Post reflected that the nine employees each kept one stamp. It was believed that the allegation was unsubstantiated because tha disposition of thetamps had bean resolved. It was learned during the7 Investigation thatf the stamps ware sold, one waa given to the stamp dealer because of its damaged condition, and the remaining nine atamps war* used for official postage prior to tha discovery of the inversion. I
ight of to* Pin* employees were interviewed personally by th*
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decided to keep the matter secret for fear that others would want to be included. He stated that he was never instructed or advised byperson as to how he should respond to questioning.
that he purchased the atamps
days later.
from the McLean Post oitice located on Spring Hill Road. Tha Office usually purchased stamps from the Dunn Loring Station but decided on this Post Office because of its close proximity and because their supply of stampa was low. He could not recall how manytamps were purchased because the amount varied according to need. However, he has since learned thatI stamps were purchased on that particular day. The discovery of the Inversion was made approximately three or four
believed that two or three stamps were
used for postage prior to the misprint discovery.
aware of the Bureau of Engraving and
and was also told thatEP
investigation conducted in He was
the investigation by
thatsatisfied
employee and the sale of tha stamps. Upon the discovery of the misprint, tha employees discussed with each other the need to kaap the matter quiet, and it was mutually agreed that it would not ba brought to the attention of I
management. Ha noted that general aiscussxan among cnw employeas did not occurroup setting; rather, information was passed to each other via ona-on-one converaations. were very narvoua and it was believed in their best interest not to inform tha Office of Securitytime of tbe initial investigation that eachtamp.
(admitted that he1 imu bne stamp in hi
his or her stamp.
possession which ha gave to his mother. The stamp is containedafe-deposit box, and ha agreed to return it To his knowledge, none of tha nine has sold
claimed that he was told that
some stamps wereostage although he could not recall the individual's name who supplied the information.
that he was the first to
stamps, father aria-
notice the misprinted stamps. Cupon his discovery, he countedtamps on the sheet and was aware that onlytamps werence they realized that the stamps might be valuable, they decided to each keep one and sell the remaining
return it
advised that his stamp was given to his adafe^deposit box. He agreed to
No one wanted
that they eachtamp in their possession.
to bring the natter to the attention of |
noted that he made an independent
decision to lie" about possession of the stamps, and hehe was instructed to conceal or distort informationinvestigation. According to1nonetne
remaining nine stamps have been aoId by tne employees.
that he had one
gave him the check and I gave him
was contained in an envelope. The envelope
Shortly thereafter, he
stamp in his_po5BeBSion vnicn nas since been lost. He was not given the check and the stamp on the same day. He recalled
that the
Camp, union" was placedesk in his bedroom, rearranged his room and than read tha article In the Washington Post which reflected that the stamp waa valuable. Be haa been unsuccessful in the search for tbe atamp but ha noted that his parents are currently searching the attic under tha assumption that it may have bean misplaced with other belongings during the rearrangement of furniture in hia room. Ba wiljjeport on the disposition of the stamp
17, noted that group discussions of the
investigation hava not bean held because of naw employeesentered on duty after tha discovery. The
grooP concealed tha sale transaction from tba new employees.
1 advised that he was not questioned during tha
initial Office of Security investigation regarding tha disposition of the stamps that were not sold. However, he believed that there were atamps which ware uaed for postage. 1
ampsTl
entered the
During the morning hoursust was interviewed about possession of the
room and helda discussion with and F
disapprovinglytamp. stamps
the nine employees each had one stamp, and looked
because of-cne loss of his
18tatea, -ir asked, we don't have the
was interviewed subsequently bynd he claimed that he was not asked '
specifically it netamp or if otherstamp in their possession. He noted that the conversation consisted of guidance offered in the event that he was contacted by the media. He stated that h* realized his actions warend he intended to come in on his own7 to^ set the record straight.
advised that hetamp
safe-deposit box and would return it eave without Pay status during tha discoverysale of the misprinted stamps. He was scheduledupon his return to duty. Be was contacted
instructed to report to the
office, which he assumed waa related to his pending | L arrival,himheck and one
stamp and tola mm tnat itonus. explained the discovery and sale transaction and told him that the employees were "keeping it quitt" because they did not want anyone to know about the sale.
20. Discussions were held via one-on-one conversations during the initial investigation. Each person interviewed eported to the others what questions were asked and what information was supplied. Although he could not recall the names of specific Individuals, he noted that he was told to keep the story straight and not to volunteer anytio_ru_ Likewise, during7 interviews, reported thatp [deniedtamp in I ossession, ana the other employwes lied to protect each otner. roup
discussion was held inrooa afterwas
interviewed. Those present included 1
h*v* "
oeenwaa uvdided at tnat time that toe disposition
of tha remaining stamps should be concealed.
stamp in
was asked why the employees placed the safe-deposi boxes. He replied that in October or
researched the value ofand
learned that itworth. He
informed the others of the value andafe-deposit box. | )
22. that hetamp in his
possession and gave it to his father. The stamp is contained;afe-deposit box and would be returnedeptember
that he was less than forthright
during tne previous interview when asked about the disposition" of the nine stamps. He interpreted the question literallyhat he did not have possession of the stamp; it was ln his father's possession. Regarding knowledge of others having the stamp, he Interpreted the question to mean knowledge of individuala who have since purchased the stamp from the dealer. The stamp was retained initiallyouvenir and then was considered an inveatment once the dealer related that additional stamps could be0 each.
23.
he confirmed that US
and
transaction.
was involved in the sale transaction, and atampa were aold and one damaged atamp waa given to th* dealer. Th* general consensus among th* group during th* initial lnvaatigation was that *unleae asked, don't tell about each persontamp." The group alao discussed how to respond to questions during7 int*rvi*wa, and after tha Initial interview of ^ khe remaining employees were awar* of th* cjUastloni oaing aakad. He alao recalled that prior to the sale
advised the others not
to reveal possession Ot the stamps forthat other people
would want one.
also gave
gave
atampa wortn approximately $jL7JL,each. these stamps to his father.
Once the sale transaction was finalized, thebooklet of three or four different misprinted
to "Hnoted thatr
the stamp in
the Qffici or securityersonally did nottampouvenir put upon the
discovery,
to buy one atamp each towas tnen aaciaeaach employee would receive one stamp and would reimburse th* SI value.
Thereeneral discussion among tha individuals not to talk about the discovery to other employe**. | |
cknowl*dged that [ is awar* that non*/
of th* atampa were used for postage. Bdwevar, believedtha initial investigation that some of tin-stampsfor officialadmitted that! " oncealed
and
lb*rataly dutxnvr1 thec-pravtoo* day
recalled that | old the Chief, I"
riend that evening and was encouraged
tu a
the truth. han discussed the matter with Idea that
thatfitTould ammcr
it was decidea that th* in thalr possession, actlona immensely andareer over one mistake.
and
roup would confess totamp indicated chat egretted
wouldromisrng-
eceipt for thaI stamps
purchased at the we Lean Post Office onecalled that the misprint wasew days later, and at that time, two of the employees wanted totamp to keep. Once they learned the value of the stamps* it waa decided that
person would be given one stamp.
that none of the stamps were used for postage. However, during
the BEP investigation, which was conducted telephonically, provided information to the effect thattamps were sold an the rest were used for postage prior to the discovery. as informed of the Freedom-of Information Act request by
to keep to the story
that the remaining nine stamps were used for postage.
and IwW^the first to iuuun wooneither I lor any of stomp in their possessibrrs-1 Later
28. The group discussed the investigation and7 interviews as they occurred. | denied that
"instructed anyone to respond according to I -rationalized that the others lied because be Interviewed and was that the other employa stamp in their
i the best'course ul action wouia oe to reveal the truth, contacted the other employees telephonically and informed ecision to notify management of the disposition of
f ^fsfarnD to the Office of
thatoverwhelmed by guilt and decided
turned
that the best'cooriie vi action would be to reveal
the remarnrhg
Securityeptember-rrs7.
In summary, six of the employees lied about possession of the stamps during7 interview!
.that M
was hot askedthe disposition of thethat he deliberately Interpreted
the questionsnot Interviewed on
one stamp in their
2 However, ne was informed by prior to tbe Interview7 tha would be notified that each employee had possession.
Three stamps have been returned to the Office of
rerui
employees advised tnat tne stamp
irnea On
"and
I claimed that HTB stamp nag'br misplacedi 1 _that his stamp was in his
father'a possession, and be requested and was granted the opportunity to seek legal counsel prior to notification to the Office of Security of his intention regarding the stamp.
SEC
SUBJECTi
Conversion. for Personal Gain
Property
etained the services of an attorneyTf
that h*
J
th* undersigned contactedlndividuala regarding th* disposition of th* atamppossessions
flBwlsad
near future, onound.
conaoir-wrth an attOfftTTln the
near tutur*.on sick leave and
advised that his stamp bad not
th* services of an attorney for legal representation^
4. Attempts tohis office ver*
unsuccessful. It waa learned that neequest forvah* day after b* was Interviewed about th* disposition of tha atamp. Zt is noted that during tbeh*to return the atamp.to th*
Office of Security *>
to report for duty on
SECRET
instructed toemorandum
by close of businesseptember
outlining thaBis stamp. It waa requested that the
memorandumdates, circumstances and possible
to be submitted
whereabouts ofor lost atamp. This memorandum is
three employees have either consulted with or plan to
retain an attorney for legal representation:
)
I claimed that "his stamp was either misplacedunknown at this time what course of action willwho is currently on annual leave.
Original document.
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