Two former Commerce Department agents who publicly smeared the Office of the Inspector General under the leadership of Inspector General Todd Zinser pleaded guilty on Tuesday to filing false expense claims and committing attendance fraud, according to the Justice Department.
While under investigation, the former agents made allegations against Inspector General Zinser and his senior staff with complaints to the Commerce Secretary, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the Office for Civil Rights.
Reports produced by Inspector General Zinser and his staff, and their investigations have been instrumental in addresssing problems in fisheries enforcement and management. (See links below.)
Inspector General Zinser said Tuesday that the former agents waged a smear campaign against his office while they were under investigation. "In addition to the fraud perpetrated on the U.S. taxpayers, these now former employees also retaliated by carrying out a destructive campaign of disparagement and false allegations against the Office of the Inspector General," the Inspector General said in a statement.
Rachel Ondrik, 35, of Frederick, and Kirk Yamatani, 38, of Ashburn, who both worked as special agents for the Commerce Department's inspector general's office, sought payments for more than $36,000 apiece in false relocation expenses, according to their plea agreements.
For more information:
Read the full story at the Washington Post
Additional articles on the Office of Inspector General's investingations into fisheries enforcement:
Summary of the Inspector General's Report on NOAA Fisheries Law Enforcement
Inspector General releases final report on serious problems with NOAA's fisheries enforcement
IG questions summary of NOAA asset fund audit
SAVING SEAFOOD RADIO: Commerce Department Inspector General Todd Zinser and New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang discuss the upcoming IG investigation of rule-making
IG cites NOAA for lack of response
Fed IG auditing NOAA policies
Reports issued by Inspector General Todd Zinser on NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement:
Review of NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Programs and Operations
Final Report – Review of NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Programs and Operations
Review of NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Asset Forfeiture Fund