Summary

On February 13, 2015, Rita Hedlund, former Special Agent, Office of Security and Hazardous Materials, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Chicago, Illinois, related to a scheme in which she provided false and misleading information to the FAA about the conduct of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) inspections. Hedlund was sentenced to 12 months probation with 120 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $3,400 in restitution. Hedlund previously pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FAA in August 2014.

The investigation revealed that from approximately January 2009 through October 2011, Hedlund falsely represented to the FAA that she conducted inspections of certain HAZMAT shippers, air carriers, and freight forwarders. Hedlund entered false information into the FAA’s HAZMAT database indicating she conducted the inspections, including false entities inspected and dates on which those inspections purportedly occurred. Further, she entered false information relating to meetings with companies she claimed to have inspected.

OIG conducted this investigation with assistance from the FAA.