BIA Employee Sent Unwanted, Sexually Explicit Messages

OIG initiated this investigation after receiving allegations that a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) employee harassed Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) employees and tribal members by sending them unwanted—and often sexually explicit—texts and Facebook messages. CRIT also alleged that the BIA employee’s conduct had caused a CRIT employee and a tribal member to file injunctions against harassment on him out of concern for their own safety.

 

Our investigation confirmed the allegations against the BIA employee. He admitted to sending sexually explicit texts, Facebook messages, and handwritten notes to CRIT employees and tribal members. We confirmed that these texts, messages, and notes were unwelcome and found that the BIA employee had sent some of them while on duty. We also confirmed that a CRIT employee and a tribal member had filed injunctions against the BIA employee because his conduct had caused them to fear for their safety.

 

The BIA employee acknowledged that his conduct was unprofessional and inappropriate for a Government employee.