Investigation of False Claims by BIA Firefighters

A complainant alleged that three Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) firefighters claimed overtime hours for which they were not actually needed. Our investigation found that a deputy superintendent claimed overtime amounting to approximately $30,000, a fire management officer claimed approximately $56,000, and a supervisory wildland fire operations specialist claimed approximately $29,000. The supervisory wildland fire operations specialist admitted that between 50 and 80 percent of the overtime for all three employees was unneeded. 

 

As result of our investigation, a supervisory wildland fire operations specialist pled guilty to a single count of theft in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, a fire management officer was acquitted of all charges at trial, and charges against a deputy superintendent were dismissed at the request of the United States attorney. 

 

We referred our investigation to BIA for action. The supervisory wildland operations specialist resigned, BIA entered into a last chance agreement with the fire management officer, and the deputy superintendent had previously retired from BIA.

 

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