http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=38 The 10 most recent releases on the U.S. DoT OIG web site related to Employee Integrity en-US webmaster@oig.dot.gov (OIG Webmaster) http://www.oig.dot.gov/images/dot.gif http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=38 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2525 On July 27, 2009, Vincent Land of Norfolk, Virginia was sentenced in Virginia State Court, Norfolk, Virginia, to four years imprisonment, three years of which were suspended, for grand larceny. On August 10, 2009, coconspirators Jacques Cowell and Marquis Vinson pleaded guilty to the aforementioned charge and each received a twoyear suspended sentence. These sentences result from the defendants roles in the May 4, 2009 theft of a DOT laptop computer and over $100,000 in transit benefit checks. The OIG investigation determined that the defendants and a fourth individual, who was not charged, checked into a Doubletree Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, where a DOT contractor was staying. When the DOT contractor checked in, the hotel desk clerk failed to save the transaction in the hotel computer system; therefore; the hotel computer system indicated that the contractors room was available and it was assigned as if it were a vacant room. Upon entering the room, the defendants took the governmentissued laptop computer and roughly $103,800 in transit benefit checks. The majority of the stolen transit benefit checks were recovered. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2525 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2399 On November 21, 2008, Tyronne Greene, a wage grade machinery repairman employed by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) at the James River Reserve Fleet (JRRF), Fort Eustis, Virginia, pled guilty in U.S. District Court, Newport, News, Virginia to theft of government property. Mr. Greene admitted to stealing copper electrical cable from vessels moored on the James River. He said he conducted the activity approximately two times per week throughout 2007. The estimated loss to the government is roughly $7,000. Mr. Greene is currently on suspension without pay pending termination. Mr. Greene was indicted in September 2008. He will be sentenced on April 20, 2009. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2399 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2394 On November 14, 2008, David Trigg, Air Traffic Control Specialist, was sentenced to 78 Months Imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release in U.S. District Court, St. Louis, Missouri. Trigg pled guilty on August 27, 2008, to “Receipt of Child Pornography” and “Possession of Child Pornography.” During the DOT/OIG investigation, Mr. Trigg admitted to utilizing a Federal Aviation Administration computer to access child pornography prior to his morning shifts in the air traffic control tower at the St. Louis Airport. Additionally, forensic analysis conducted on Mr. Triggs home computer, confirmed multiple images depicting child pornography. Mr. Tigg will be removed from Federal service effective November 28, 2008. This investigation was conducted jointly with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2394 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2381 On October 27, Jennene Angel Pugh, former Vice President of Finances and Administration of Butler Innovative Solutions, Inc. (BISI), a disadvantaged 8(a) business, pled guilty in Prince Georges County, Maryland Circuit Court to state charges of aggregated theft over $500.00. Her sentencing is scheduled for January 7, 2009. In June 2008, Ms. Pugh was indicted for embezzling approximately $859,439 from BISI by using false invoices for fictitious companies she created. BISI was awarded a $3 million contract to move furniture and office items from the former DOT Headquarters to the new Headquarters building. This is a joint investigation with Prince Georges County, Maryland Police Department. Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2381 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2348 On August 28, 2008, former DOT/OIG supervisory auditor Paulette HegginsCarter pled guilty to mail fraud in U.S. District Court, Dallas, Texas. Ms. HegginsCarters sister, Janie Heggins, pled guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Ms. Janie Heggins was the former Controller at ART Holdings, Inc., a financial services company located in Dallas, Texas. In May 2008, the sisters were charged with conspiring to carry out a scheme to defraud ART Holdings of approximately $469,000 by issuing more than 250 fraudulent checks against the financial accounts of ART Holdings and its subsidiary companies. The money was allegedly used to pay personal credit card bills and telephone bills, make mortgage payments, and pay operational expenses for a night club the sisters jointly owned. Sentencing for Ms. HegginsCarter and Ms. Janie Heggins is scheduled for December 4, 2008. This is an ongoing, joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2348 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2349 On August 27, 2008, David Trigg, Air Traffic Control Specialist with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), pled guilty in U.S. District Court, St. Louis, Missouri, to receiving and possessing child pornography. The DOT/OIG investigation revealed an air traffic controller was accessing child pornography through a FAA computer network located in the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower in Chesterfield, Missouri. Subsequently, a federal search warrant was obtained and forensic examination of a computer recovered multiple images depicting child pornography. Mr. Trigg admitted to utilizing this FAA computer to access child pornography prior to his shifts in the air traffic control tower. He also admitted to using his home computer to access child pornography. Mr. Trigg was placed on indefinite suspension from the FAA pending criminal action in the matter. His sentencing date is scheduled for November 14, 2008. This was a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2349 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2314 On June 9, 2008, former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employee Sabrina Vines (GS14) pled guilty in U.S. District Court, Washington, D.C., to a onecount information charging her with theft of public money. DOT/OIGs investigation determined that in 2003, Ms. Vines began using her Governmentissued purchase card to make unauthorized purchases of items such as laptop computers and highdefinition televisions. Ms. Vines also used her purchase card for a rental car transaction and a separate hotel resort transaction in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. According to the signed plea agreement, the total loss associated with the unauthorized transactions exceeds $23,000. Ms. Vines resigned from FAA on May 23, 2008. Her sentencing has been scheduled for October 3, 2008. Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2314 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2226 On January 29, 2008, Emilio Estrada, Aviation Safety Inspector (GS14) for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), pled guilty in U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, to theft of government property. DOT/OIGs investigation revealed that from 2000 through July 2006, Mr. Estrada requested and was granted military leave on 19 different occasions, which cost the FAA $24,432.28. Mr. Estrada told coworkers he was an Air Force General; however, Mr. Estrada was not eligible for military leave because he had separated from the D.C. Air National Guard Bureau in 1991. Mr. Estrada, who has been on paid administrative leave, made full restitution to FAA in advance of the plea proceedings. His sentencing is scheduled for April 25, 2008. Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2226 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2153 On October 18, 2007, Howard L. Swancy, a former Senior Advisor (GS15 equivalent) to the FAA Deputy Administrator, pled guilty to First Degree Fraud in D.C. Superior Court. Mr. Swancy entered into a deferred sentencing agreement which allows his sentencing to be continued for six months during which time he must complete 40 hours of community service and the fraud charge will be dismissed. Mr. Swancy filed five fraudulent travel vouchers, including altered and fabricated hotel receipts, resulting in him wrongfully receiving more than $5,200 between March 2005 and January 2007. Mr. Swancy resigned from FAA in March 2007 during the course of our investigation. Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2153 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2060 On May 31, Keith A. Johnson, a former inspector for the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Greenville, South Carolina, to charges of making false statements regarding a Federallyfunded highway project. Johnson was in charge of ensuring that readymix concrete met contract specifications for a $5.7 million bridge construction project over the Chatuga River on U.S. Highway 76 in Oconee County, South Carolina. Investigation found that Johnson allowed concrete to be poured before calculating if the concrete was within tolerances as required by state regulations. Johnson also falsified four reports indicating the concrete met contract specifications, when in fact it did not. Johnson was subsequently terminated from employment with SCDOT. State officials subsequently inspected the concrete and verified that it is within tolerances. Sentencing is pending. OIG investigated this case jointly with the FBI and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2060