Investigation of Alleged Misconduct by a BIA Employee and Alleged Misuse of a CDIB Card

OIG investigated allegations that a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) superintendent might be receiving money or favors in exchange for his work with a tribe. According to the complaint, the superintendent continued working as a technical advisor for a tribe seeking Federal acknowledgment as a Native American Indian Tribe even after being ordered to stop. It was also alleged that one of the tribe members requested social services by presenting a certificate degree of Indian blood (CDIB) card that potentially had been improperly produced.

 

We found that the superintendent began working with the tribe in 2002 and continued to help them even after he was moved to a different position. We found no evidence, however, that the superintendent received anything of value in exchange for helping the tribe after he changed jobs. The superintendent assisted them until late 2015, when he was directed by the BIA regional director to stop.

 

We also found that the tribe created two CDIB cards that were issued to two members, and that one of the members used his card to obtain medical services on three occasions. According to the tribe, the cards were issued under the direction of the superintendent. When we interviewed the superintendent, he said he told the tribe that while the tribe could issue cards internally, the cards could not be used to obtain services because the tribe was not federally recognized. The superintendent said he never saw the cards and he did not know the cards had been used to obtain services.

 

This is a summary of a report that was issued to BIA.