Posted on 06/07/2005 1:41:31 AM PDT by joinedafterattack
Steve Doran helped unearth the case then got fired because, he says, management wanted a cover-up, not the truth.
(CBS) It was the most sensational of all the suspect purchases made with government credit cards. A custom black Mustang, charged by Los Alamos National Laboratory employee Lillian Anaya. After a year-long investigation, the New Mexico lab exonerated her, and even claims she's the victim.
But a CBS News investigation casts serious doubt on that story.
FBI documents show Anaya "denied any knowledge or involvement" with the car and said she "never heard of" the car company. When the FBI showed her records of calls and faxes between her office and the Mustang dealer, Anaya "could not offer any explanation reasonable or not."
So, as CBS News Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports, one was concocted for her by the University of California, which gets taxpayer money from the Energy Department to run the lab.
In a memo, a university attorney poses "a reasonable hypothesis ..." that Anaya was trying to buy lab equipment called "transducers," but dialed a wrong number and "did not realize she was actually speaking to ... the ... Mustang company," which then tricked her into ordering a car.
Upon hearing the explanation, former lab investigator Steve Doran says, "I literally started laughing. There's absolutely no way that their explanation holds water."
Steve Doran helped unearth the case then got fired because, he says, management wanted a cover-up, not the truth.
But no one was more surprised by the "wrong number" defense than the man who sold Anaya the Mustang.
"I talked to her probably on about five to seven occasions," says Tom Thompson, owner of AMP Performance.
He says Anaya knew exactly what she wanted, and it wasn't transducers.
"She wanted a late model Mustang black convertible, with like black leather interior," he says. "She wanted it loaded up with all the options and then she wanted to make it go fast."
CBS News has learned lab auditors flagged thousands more suspect purchases Anaya made as "attractive for personal use" or "unallowed."
Yet the lab declared her innocent and warmly welcomed her "back to the Los Alamos team."
Lab officials hoped closing the case would "restore the public's confidence" in the university's management of the lab. To some, it's done just the opposite. Congress now wants the Energy Department to explain why it swallowed the wrong number explanation, and take a new look at the case.
I read it about an hour ago but post # 14 has a link to the same story.
Yes, they need to be investigated AND charged.
Let's hold the indignation until the story's confirmed by a reputable news organization.
Whether or not this particular story is true, it is a fact that there is extensive abuse of the credit cards. It was already being noted in 1997 in the DOD sector.
How do I know? I worked for DOD.
I don't suppose they've got an answer to the question "When the Mustang showed up, why didn't she say 'This isn't a transducer - where are my transducers? - send this back.'", do they?
All I need to know.
After seeing the contract beating the other whistle-blower in this Los Alamos case got, I think Mr. Doran should be under FBI protection 24/7. He is extremely brave.
Mustang Incident
Lab employee Lillian Anaya was suspected of attempting to purchase a Ford Mustang with parts, amounting to nearly $30,000.00, using a government credit card. Stanley Hettich, a Business Division administrator willfully failed to report this crime to OSI, indicating he had not reported any similar type situations to OSI in the last three years. Hettich suggested that the ESA Division had gone native, and the whole system of property purchase was out of control. Hettich blamed Mr. Richard Marquez and Mr. Joseph Salgado for this failing, because they ordered him to give Lab employees anything they wanted; customer satisfaction was the key.
Casino Credit Card Incident
Lab employee Mary Wood used a government credit card to purchase personal items, and secure cash at local casinos. Salgado directed that Wood should not be interviewed and she should just be fired. Tucker recommended that she not be interviewed because she would not confess and it would be a waste of time. Security Specialist Steven Doran, OSI, interviewed the subject at which time she confessed. Immediately after the confession Dickson ordered that all the reports be submitted to him and he would determine what would happen to the case.
Tool Incident
Lab employee Orlando Smith was suspected of improperly purchasing tools amounting to approximately $1.2 million in 12 months, from an unauthorized vendor, while misusing a government vehicle.
Forged Voucher Incident
Lab employee Clarissa Rodriguez forged a government voucher for $1,800.00.
The aforesaid investigations were initiated in accordance with professional investigatory processes, but were quickly tainted by persistent interference and obstruction by multiple Lab officials.
http://tinyurl.com/bfp3e
Yeah, I wonder if this is true. It is CBS.
At one time I had a government credit card. Even after I left the government the company who had the government contract still sent me government credit cards. I would cut them in little pieces and return them. This went on for several years. I'm sure I could have bought anything I wished with those cards. How many people have those cards? I'm willing to bet that there are bunch who aren't even employees anymore. It is a complete farce and has been since it's inception.
ping
I agree with you. I have been against it ever since it was first thought of and implemented.
Sometimes these gov't credit card abuses aren't out-and-out fraud or theft, and that may be why the obvious outcomes haven't occurred.
In many of the cases, the "perps" aren't trying to actualy steal, they just use the gov't card to finance unauthorized purchases on better terms than they could get using their personal cards. In the end, the money is paid back and there is no monetary loss.
It's not right, against the rules, etc. Kind of similar to the congressional "free money" bank accounts. Abusive but not illegal.
Excellent question! Did she by any chance register the car? Did she drive it around? If it was registered, how did she prove ownership? If she registered it, most states want you to prove that you paid the appropriate sales taxes on it. Was this also charged to the govt CC? Her lame explanation leaves more questions than answers.
Thanks for the ping!
Yea, that's the ticket, "tricked her into ordering a car". That happens to me all the time.
She probably won't pull a Hubbell.
Is this one of Tony Anaya's relatives?
Somebody needs a good whuppin' here.>>>>>
At last, someone who knows how to spell! "Whooping" is either a cough or a crane, a beating is a "whuppin'".
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