Watchdog Bytes

Official budget for the FBI's Fort Worth office: Dunno.

Special thanks this month to the master sleuths at the FBI for finally giving us an "answer" to our request for budget figures nine months after we asked.

Our question: What’s the budget for the Fort Worth office?
Their answer: Don’t know.
Our follow up question: Really? You don't know?
Their answer: Nope. Don't know.
Bill Carter, an FBI press officer, wrote to say the records management division has no documents concerning what are called Resident Agency budgets.
“We checked with the FBI’s Finance Division, which collects this data, and they provided the following information in response to your request. For (fiscal year) 2008, the Dallas Field Office including its (offices in) Abilene, Amarillo, Fort Worth, Frisco, Lubbock, Lufkin, San Angelo, and Sherman expenditures included $8 million in non-personnel and $59 million in personnel expenses, for a total of $67 million.”

Carter also said the FBI manages its budgets at the headquarter level and field level. 
Expenses related to fixed costs, such as rent and personnel expenses, are managed at FBI headquarters.  Other expenses to include supplies, training, case funds, and other services are managed by the field offices.
Watchdog first asked the FBI to gestate this information back on Sept. 24. Our questions were fully answered, and we handed out cigars on July 1.  
Way to snap to it, fellas.

-- Darren Barbee

 

Week of July 19: And the Burro goes to...

It’s early, but this week we’re going out on a limb to award a double Burro to Cenikor Foundation, of Deer Park, and the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
First up is Cenikor, a substance abuse facility, which was fined $1,600 for something to do with abuse, neglect and exploitation of a patient among other violations.
It was cited with section 448.703(a)(c) (j)(3) of the Texas Administrative Code, which says, providers shall “enforce appropriate sanctions for confirmed violations; including, but not limited to, termination of personnel with confirmed violations of client or participant physical or sexual abuse or instances of neglect that result in client or participant harm.”
We’re not sure what to make of all this as well as several other violations cited by the health department.
Lets turn to the documents requested from the health department, which say: Nothing.
But then little survives the meat cleavers of health and human services’ Delete Division¹.Except for something to do with kitchen labor detail at Cenikor.
See in the name of patient privacy, information was withheld and the department is asking the attorney general if the information can be held back.
At first, Bill Bailey, president and CEO of Cenikor wouldn’t even confirm the facility had been fined when contacted, despite being sent a link to a state website showing it had been fined. 
Then, after a while, he wrote an email that a document "you referenced ... is in our possession.”
He added, “It is our goal to be transparent in all our actions, though due to confidentially we cannot reveal specifics that deal with current or past residents.”

1) Not real.

Thanks, dudes. 

-- Darren Barbee

A last roll call: Two Texans among 23 dead

The following 23 military personnel were reported dead July 12-19 by the defense department:

Marines

Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Antonik, 29, of Crystal Lake, Ill., died July 11 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Lance Cpl. Daniel G. Raney, 21, of Pleasant View, Tenn., died July 9 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Roads, 20, of Burney, Calif., died July 10 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. This incident is under investigation.

Cpl. Dave M. Santos, 21, of Rota, Marianas Islands of the Pacific, died July 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. This incident is under investigation.

Staff Sgt. Justus S. Bartelt, 27, of Polo, Ill., died July 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

U.S. Army

Staff Sgt. Jesse W. Ainsworth, 24, of Dayton, Texas, died July 10 near Walakan, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

Spc. Joseph W. Dimock II, 21, of Wildwood, Ill, died July 10 in Salerno, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident when an explosion occurred in an ammunition holding facility during an inventory.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

Sgt. Donald R. Edgerton, 33, of Murphy, N.C., died July 10 near Char Dara, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

Spc. Carlos J. Negron, 40, of Fort Meyers, Fla., died July 10 at Asadabad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered
at Konar, Afghanistan when insurgents attacked his unit with rifle and small arms fire.  He was assigned to 426th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Sgt. Shaun M. Mittler, 32, of Austin, Texas, died July 10 in Konar, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fires.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Sgt. Robert W. Crow, 42, of Kansas City, Mo., died July 10 in Paktika, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 203rd Engineer Battalion, Joplin, Mo.

Spc. Christopher J. Moon, 20, of Tucson, Ariz., died July 13 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device on July 6 in Arghandab, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Spc. Nathaniel D. Garvin, 20, of Radcliff, Ky., died July 12 at Forward Operating Base Frontenac, Afghanistan (Kandahar, Afghanistan), of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 96th Aviation Support Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Pvt. Brandon M. King, 23, of Tallahassee, Fla., died July 14 at Combat Outpost Nolen, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
Sgt. Matthew W. Weikert, 29, of Jacksonville, Ill., died July 17 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Two soliders died July 5 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y. Killed were: Staff Sgt. Christopher F. Cabacoy, 30, of Virginia Beach, Va. and Spc. Edwin C. Wood, 18, of Omaha, Neb., who was  posthumously promoted from private first class.

Three died July 13 in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their unit with rifle, rocket propelled grenade, and small arms fire.  Killed were:  1st Lt. Christopher S. Goeke, 23, of Apple Valley, Minn., Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Stout, 34, of Worthville, Ky., Staff Sgt. Sheldon L. Tate, 27, of Hinesville, Ga. 1st Lt. Goeke and Staff Sgt. Stout were assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.  Staff Sgt. Tate was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Four died July 14 at Zabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their military vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat), Fort Bragg, N.C. Killed were: Spc. Chase Stanley, 21, of Napa, Calif.,  Spc. Jesse D. Reed, 26, of Orefield, Penn., Spc. Matthew J. Johnson, 21, of Maplewood, Minn. and Sgt. Zachary M. Fisher, 24, of Ballwin, Mo.

-- Darren Barbee

Massage therapist going to prison and before you ask, no, not for that

A judge has thrown the towel at a licensed massage therapist whose profligacy was limited to stealing money from the government.
Ary-Berry, 38, of Lubbock, was sentenced this month to 6.5 years in a federal deep relaxation facility (prison) and ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution for health care fraud.
You may be thinking, "$1.6 million? Are you sure she wasn't..."
Nope.
To continue this story, we’re transitioning now into the tale of Little Red Riding Hood because this is a family blog. It will also explain how she bilked Uncle Sam.
LRRH: "My Ary-Berry, what long hours you work! More than 24 in a single day!"
Ary-Berry: "The better to serve my clients."
LRRH: "My Ary-Berry, what long arms you have! You billed the government for work while out of town."
Ary-Berry: "I do a lot of stretching."
LRRH: "My Ary-Berry, what a creative thinker you are! You put patients in the hot tub and a dry sauna and billed them for “rentals” using codes a physician would use for office visits and educational materials."
Ary-Berry: "The better to swindle you with!"
And Ary-Berry suddenly jumped up and filled out forms for phony services.
Alas, federal authorities began investigating in early 2008 when they received a referral from a nurse examiner who believed Ary-Berry was making excessive billing claims.

To close, we'll paraphrase Hamlet: “To sleep: perchance to scheme: ay, there's the rub.”

--Darren Barbee

And the Burro goes to: Swindler who stole $300,000, asked judge for community supervision

Stephen Bayliss Jones of Corpus Christi is this week's Burro award winner. Jones  asked a judge Monday for a sentence of community supervision after fleecing investors out of about $300,000. 
Jones' scam was an investment in composite “storm-proof” building materials for homes located in hurricane-prone areas, according to the Texas State Securities Board.
But Hurricane Jones was actually blowing the money on himself — including $35,000 in mortgage payments, $28,000 on restaurants, groceries and department store bills, and a car.
Jones sold stock in his company, King’s Cross, from January 2007 until about March 2008.
Securities Commissioner Denise Voigt Crawford said the Jones case underscores the need for investors to check if the securities they are planning to buy are registered with the state. “Unregistered stock like the shares Jones sold is a red flag for investors,” Crawford said. “In almost all instances, securities need to be registered and the person selling securities needs to be registered with the state as well.”
By the way, a state district judge gave Jones 12 years in prison, the maximum. 
The moral: there’s no way to “dumb-proof” a moron.

-- Darren Barbee

Sacrifice and death: 20 military personnel killed in Afghanistan, Iraq, accidents

U.S. Defense Department death reports, July 3-7.

Two died July 5 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to 1st Squadron, 71st Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y. Killed were: Pfc. Edwin C. Wood, 18, of Omaha, Neb. and Staff Sgt. Christopher F. Cabacoy, 30, of Virginia Beach, Va.

Two died of injuries July 5 in Yakuta, Afghanistan after insurgents attacked their unit using an improvised explosive device.  The soldiers were assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Killed were Spc. Keenan A. Cooper, 19, of Wahpeton, N.D. and Spc. Jerod H. Osborne, 20, of Royse City, Texas. 

July 6 at Qalat, Afghanistan, three died of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, Hohenfels, Germany.  They were: Staff Sgt. Marc A. Arizmendez, 30, of Anaheim, Calif. Spc. Roger Lee, 26, of Monterey, Calif. Pfc. Michael S. Pridham, 19, of Louisville, Ky. 

Spc. Morganne M. McBeth, 19,of Fredricksburg, Va., died July 2 in Al Asad, Iraq, of wounds sustained July 1 in a non-combat related incident in Khan Al Baghdadi, Iraq.  She was assigned to the 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sgt. 1st Class Kristopher D. Chapleau, 33, of LaGrange, Ky., died June 30 at Forward Operating Base Blessing, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Sgt. Johnny W. Lumpkin, 38,of Columbus, Ga., died July 2 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds sustained July 1 in a non-combat related equipment incident in Taji, Iraq.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Pfc. Ryan J. Grady, 25, of Bristow, Okla.,died July 1 at Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised-explosive device.  He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Bradford, Vt.

Spc. Clayton D. McGarrah, 20, of Harrison, Ark.,died July 4 at Arghandab, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenade fire.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Spc. Louis R. Fastuca, 24, of West Chester, Pa., died July 5 at Abdulhamid Kalay, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle, Italy.

Pfc. David Jefferson, 23, of Philadelphia,died July 2 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Sgt. Jordan E. Tuttle , 22,  of West Monroe, La., died July 2 at Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.  He was a member of the 156th Army Band in Bossier City, La., and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Orleans, La. 

Spc. Ryan J. Grady, 25, of Bristow, Okla.,died July 1 at Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised-explosive device.  He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Bradford, Vt.

Sgt. Andrew J. Creighton, 23, of Laurel, Del.,died July 4 in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained on July 1 while conducting combat operations in Oruzgan province.  He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Pfc. Jacob A. Dennis, 22, of Powder Springs, Ga.,died July 3 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained June 30 in a weapons system accident at Forward Operating Base Lane, Afghanistan (Zabul province).

Pfc. Anthony W. Simmons, 25, of Tallahassee, Fla.,died July 8 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Capt David A. Wisniewski, 31, of Moville, Iowa,died July 2 of wounds sustained June 9 in a helicopter crash near Forward Operating Base Jackson, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

-- Darren Barbee

Defense department emailing 400,000 surveys about gays to troops

The U.S. Defense Department is emailing surveys to 200,000 active duty and 200,000 Guard and Reserve service members, seeking their feedback on the potential impact of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Hip hip for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq to get to express their opinions.

What we find perplexing is the blurry file footage of troops shown in this Pentagon report about the survey. 

 

FDA urged to crack down at the FDA cafeteria

Looks like the feds need to raid their own cafeteria.
So says, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the group that lobbied for food packages to be labeled with their nutritional values.
Seems a lawyer for the group stopped off for a healthy lunch at the FDA’s new HQ in Maryland. Among his findings were expired drinks and fruit drinks without any fruit juice.
While there, he noted the following were being sold by the Food and Drug Administration:
• The juice: Purity Organic Functional Drinks Pomegranate Blueberry.  The label claims the drink’s “Ginkgo Biloba” will enhance your memory and “keep you thinking straight.”
• The squeeze: Government-funded studies show ginkgo has no effect on memory and does not lower incidence of Alzheimer’s or dementia, either. 
• BS factor 8: Ginkgo may have been “grown by monks for millennia” as the web site claims, but it isn’t generally recognized as safe as a food additive, according to, uh, the FDA. 

• The juice: Crystal Light Immunity Berry Pomegranate.  This bright purple beverage’s label pictures blueberries and a pomegranate, yet the drink has no juice of any kind. Bravo!
• The squeeze: Natural flavoring accounts for less than 2 percent of the product, and only an unknown fraction of that comes from the named fruits.   The color comes from Red 40 and Blue 1 and the artificial sweetness comes from sucralose and acesulfame potassium.  Vitamins A, B, C and E are listed on the ingredients list, but there is no evidence to support the implication that this drink will ward off colds or diseases, which is what is implied by the use of the word “immunity.”  The public interest center urged the FDA to take enforcement action against this product in 2008.
• BS factor 6.The bottle in the FDA cafeteria was long past its “Best before 26 December 2007” expiration date.  

• The juice: SoBe Lifewater B-Energy Black Cherry Dragonfruit.  Once again, no black cherry or dragonfruit juice, but it does have guarana and ginseng and added vitamins.  Using the word “energy” in the name and claiming that its B vitamins “help your body unlock the energy in foods,” implies that the drink will make one feel more energetic. 
• The squeeze: B vitamins do help to convert protein, fat, and carbohydrates into energy but don’t provide an energy boost that can be felt by the body. 
• BS factor 10: The “all natural” claim is unjustified because Lifewater contains added citric acid. Those without magnifying glasses might miss the fact that the bottle (described improbably as 2.5 servings) will supply 62.5 milligrams of caffeine, more than what you’d find in a 12-ounce can of Coke.  

-- Darren Barbee

Medicare: Giving taxpayers the bird 18 million times

Rare is the bird that slams its head into the same window more than once.

If only the same could be said for Medicare.

Flap, flap, flap, BANG: A government watchdog found 18 million Medicare Part D prescriptions had “invalid prescriber identifiers.” What’s an invalid identifier? It’s kind of like a code number that lets everybody know things are on the up and up.

Flap, flap, flap, BANG: A single invalid identifier, AA0000000, was recorded on almost 1.8 million records in 2007 for 151,000 Medicare beneficiaries. That’s right, no one noticed the same invalid number was used 1.8 million times. In fact 88 percent of invalid identifiers weren’t even in the correct format.

Flap, flap, flap, BANG:  A total of $1.2 billion in Medicare Part D prescription drug claims contained invalid prescriber identifiers in 2007.

The inspector general for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services put it this way:

“Based on our findings, we conclude that (Medicare) and Part D plans do not have adequate procedures in place to detect invalid values in the prescriber identifier field.”

Or, to keep with the bird theme, “Medicare: One more white splatter on government’s windshield.”

-- Darren Barbee

Now don't feel embarrassed; it happens to every department once in a while

Hello Office of the Inspector General. How are you feeling today?
Good. Have a seat.
No, we’re not going to talk about your parents today. I’d like to go back to this case involving charlatan psychologist Edward Birts.
Now, don’t start crying. Anyone can lose track of  $968,583.58 in government money.
Here’s a tissue.
OK. We’ll do the talking.

How were you to know that Birts got his Ph.D. by buying it online? Just say your affirmation: You’re the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. That means you’re important.
It’s natural to feel inadequate. Think how the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Unit in Houston feels. They were right there with you, totally blowing it.
Neither one of you caught on that Birts was ripping off Medicaid for nearly  three years: From January 2003 through September 2006.
Or that the Texas Attorney General just got a guilty plea out of the guy last month.
Yes, we know he owned and operated Courage to Change, a behavioral counseling company located in Houston.
From what you’ve told us, Birts unlawfully acquired Medicaid beneficiaries’ information, including names, addresses and Medicaid numbers which he would use to file false claims. Then, through his counseling business, Birts routinely billed Medicaid for group therapy sessions and psychiatric counseling that were not provided to the beneficiaries. 
But he was only hurting himself. Oh, and the government.
And your image.
But he’s the one looking at a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy; ditto on the health care fraud conviction.
So don’t blame yourself.
This sort of thing happens to every department.

-- Darren Barbee