October 1, 2002–March 31, 2003
Office of the Inspector General
HIGHLIGHTS OF OIG ACTIVITIES
The following table summarizes OIG activities discussed in this report. As these statistics and the following highlights illustrate, the OIG has conducted wide-ranging oversight of Department programs and operations.
Statistical Highlights
October 1, 2002 - March 31, 2003 |
Allegations Received by the Investigations Division | 5,413 |
Investigations Opened | 255 |
Investigations Closed | 354 |
Arrests | 108 |
Indictments/Informations | 74 |
Convictions/Pleas | 75 |
Administrative Actions | 54 |
Fines/Restitutions/Recoveries | $429,081 |
Audit Reports Issued | 129 |
Questioned Costs | $25 million |
Funds Put To Better Use | $14 million |
Recommendations for Management Improvements | 380 |
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
This semiannual report describes completed reviews of critical FBI programs and investigations of allegations of misconduct. Examples of reviews discussed in this report include:
- Management of FBI Information Technology. The OIG reviewed the FBI's management of its information technology (IT) investments, including Trilogy, its largest information and office automation project. We found that the FBI had not effectively managed its information technology investments.
- Allegations of a Double Standard of Discipline in the FBI. The OIG examined complaints that the FBI's disciplinary system treated senior managers more leniently than lower-level employees. We concluded that the FBI suffers from a strong, and not unreasonable, perception among its employees that a double standard of discipline exists within the FBI.
- New Agent Training Program. At the request of the FBI director, the OIG evaluated the FBI's new agent training program and the operation of the New Agent Review Board (NARB), a group that reviews whether new agent trainees should be dismissed from the training academy. The OIG identified weaknesses in the new agent training program and made several recommendations for improvement.
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
On March 1, 2003, the INS was transferred to the newly created DHS. During this reporting period, the final one in which the OIG had oversight of the INS, we issued several important reports and conducted a wide range of investigations. Examples of reviews discussed in this report include:
- Status of Foreign Student Tracking System. The OIG examined the INS's implementation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a system for tracking foreign students studying in the United States. We found that although the INS had made significant progress in implementing SEVIS, it had not fully implemented SEVIS by January 1, 2003, the congressionally mandated deadline.
- Removal of Aliens Issued Final Orders. This review found that the INS remained unsuccessful at removing from the United States nondetained aliens issued final orders of removal (removing only 13 percent).
- INS Airport Inspection Facilities. This review examined INS airport inspection facilities and found that they were deficient and vulnerable to illegal entries and escapes.
- INS Premium Processing Program. This review evaluated the INS's premium processing program, which allows certain employment-based applications to be processed more expeditiously for an increased fee. Our review found that the program has increased the time required to adjudicate routine applications and petitions.
OTHER DEPARTMENT COMPONENTS
The OIG conducted many audits, inspections, investigations, and special reviews in other Department components, including the BOP, DEA, and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), as well as several reviews that spanned more than one component. Examples of reviews discussed in this report include:
- BOP's Drug Interdiction Activities. This review evaluated the BOP's efforts to reduce drugs in its institutions. We identified inmate visitors, staff, and mail as the primary entry points for drugs in BOP facilities. Our report made various recommendations to improve the BOP's drug interdiction efforts.
- Department Demand Reduction Activities. The OIG found that the Department had overstated its demand reduction activities by millions of dollars. This review also determined that the DEA spent only $3 million, or 0.2 percent, of its total yearly budget on drug demand reduction activities.
- Computer Security Audits. The OIG continued its audits of the Department's computer security practices. We reviewed three classified systems and five sensitive but unclassified (SBU) systems. Our reviews found the Department has made progress, although continued vulnerabilities in management, operational, and technical controls need to be addressed.
- Grant Audits. The OIG continues to audit Department grants and contracts, including Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants and Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGA) for detention space. Our audits found millions of dollars in questioned costs or funds that could be put to better use.
INVESTIGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT
As shown by the statistics in the table above, the OIG investigates hundreds of allegations of misconduct. Examples of substantiated cases discussed in this report include:
- Two INS contract employees were arrested for shredding applications that had been filed with the INS. The contract employees were alleged to have shredded the documents in order to reduce application backlogs at the INS California Service Center in Laguna Niguel, California.
- The OIG investigated allegations of travel voucher abuse by Border Patrol agents detailed to Tucson, Arizona. We found that some Border Patrol agents falsified the amount of rent they paid, accepted amenities or cash rebates from lodging providers without reducing their claims for reimbursement, improperly rented rooms to subordinate agents, and falsified receipts.
- An FBI crime scene photographer was arrested for stealing FBI supplies and equipment and selling them over the Internet.
- Several BOP employees were arrested for introducing drugs into BOP facilities.
- A BOP officer pled guilty for lying about having sexual relationships with several BOP inmates.
- A DEA employee was arrested after he attempted to rob a drug dealer.
- A BOP inmate was charged with false statements after he attempted to obtain compensation from the September 11th Fund by falsely claiming that his wife had been killed at the World Trade Center in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
ONGOING REVIEWS
This report also notes many ongoing OIG reviews of important issues throughout the Department, including:
- The treatment of September 11 detainees held on immigration charges in connection with the investigation of the terrorist attacks.
- The FBI's handling of intelligence information prior to the September 11 attacks.
- The DEA's use of confidential informants.
- The status of efforts to integrate the FBI's and INS's fingerprint identification systems.
- U.S. Attorneys' Offices' (USAOs) critical incident response plans.