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Northern Virginia Public Corruption/Government Fraud Task Force

Help Stop Public Corruption in Northern Virginia
 
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Send information to the Northern Virginia Public Corruption/Government Fraud Task Force:
Please include:
  1. Specific facts of criminal activity;
  2. All information known about identity of suspects, including names, aliases, addresses, vehicles, physical description, and employment information;
  3. How do you know this information? Be specific.
  4. Your re-contact information (including phones and/email address).
 
ALL INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL
 
 
What is Public Corruption?
Types of Public Corruption.
What counties does the task force cover?
Common Questions and Concerns.
Why should I help?
Members of the Northern Virginia Public Corruption Task Force.
FBI Northern Virginia Corruption Contact Information.

 

 

 
What is Public Corruption? Public corruption is the breach of the public's trust by a public official, either elected, appointed or under contract, and/or private individual at all levels of government - local, state, and federal, who use their public office for personal gain.

It is a violation of federal law for any federal or state Government Official to ask for or receive anything of value for or because of any official act. Under federal law, the person who offers or pays a bribe is also guilty.

These crimes are the result of deals sealed with whispered conversations, quick handshakes and "under-the-table" money. Because of the secretive nature of a bribery transaction, such crimes are often difficult to detect and even more difficult to prove without the assistance of concerned citizens.

 

 
Types of Public Corruption:
1. Law Enforcement Corruption: At a state or local level, typically involves payment of bribes or kickbacks in exchange for official actions or inaction, but can also include any violation of law not necessarily connected to the official duties of the law enforcement personnel. This can involve:
    •  theft of drugs;
    • “tipping” criminals to investigation;
    • escorting deliveries of drugs or other contraband;
    • protecting criminal organizations, including drug organizations;
    • embezzlement;
    • unauthorized release of law enforcement records.
2. Legislative corruption: At state or local level this typically involves payment of bribes or kickbacks in exchange for official action or inaction. These bribes or kickbacks can be received by the legislators themselves, aides, staff persons or may involve outside parties doing business with the government.
3. Municipal corruption: This typically involves illegal activities similar to legislative corruption. Common corruption schemes at a local level can include bribes or kickbacks in exchange for:
    • supporting local ordinances;
    • approving local government bond issuance;
    • unlawful tax reduction;
    • fraudulent manipulation of probate assets;
    • conspiring with others to rezone property or influence land-use proposals.
4. Judicial corruption: Judicial corruption typically arises out of the corrupt influencing of state or local judges, juries, or court personnel (clerks, bailiffs, probation official and other administrative staff). Common corrupt schemes can include:
    • payments to judiciary personnel in exchange for dismissal of charges;
    • reduction of charges;
    • reduction of bond;
    • reduction of sentence;
    • waiver of fines;
    • return of forfeitable property;
    • favorable probation conditions. 
5. Contract corruption: Contract corruption typically involves the payment of bribes or kickbacks to local or state officials in exchange for favorable treatment on government contracts. Potential subjects may be any private contractor or anyone acting on their behalf and any public official involved in the contracting process (procurement officers, purchasing agents, city councilpersons, county commissioners). Favorable treatment can include: 
    • improper disclosure of bid information;
    • narrow tailoring of contracts to benefit a certain company (sole source contracts);
    • improper disqualification of competitors from the bid process;
    • support or voting for the bribing contractor;
    • approving false invoices, improper change orders, or cost overruns on behalf of the bribing contractor. 
6. Regulatory corruption: Regulatory corruption typically involves payment to local, state or federal officials in exchange for favorable action or inaction pertaining to identification documents, licensing, inspection and zoning variances. Unlawful payments (bribes and kickbacks) can be paid to: 
    • Inspectors for non-enforcement of violations, or extortion for false violations;
    • Planning and zoning officials for improperly reclassifying property;
    • Public officials for fraudulent documents such as driver’s licenses and passports;
    • Licensing officials for fraudulent issuance of licenses to construction contractors, subcontractors, and other regulated industries
7. Prison corruption: involves corrections officers taking unlawful payment for acts directly or indirectly related to their job. Common schemes include:
    • Smuggling contraband into the facility;
    • Granting unlawful privileges;
    • Premature release of inmates.

     
What counties does the task force cover? 

The task force is responsible for covering Arlington, Fairfax, Faquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties.

 

 
Common Questions and Concerns: 
  1. Why's the task force so concerned about public corruption? Two main reasons. First, our democracy depends on a healthy, efficient, and ethical government-whether it's in the courtroom, a local board or commission, or in the halls of the General Assembly. Second, public corruption can have a direct impact on national security. For example, in a recent case in Arizona, 26 current and former department of motor vehicles (DMV) employees were indicted for taking cash bribes for fake driver's licenses, ID cards, and even a hazmat license. What if it's a terrorist trying to get one of those licenses? We've also seen bribes paid at our borders to allow drugs to enter the country. Again, what if a bribe lets a potential terrorist get through?
  2. What kinds of crimes are involved in public corruption? They run the gamut, embezzlement, voter fraud, subsidy fraud and illegal kickbacks. For example, a health inspector might threaten to report code violations unless a restaurant owner pays a bribe. A government official might award a contract in exchange for free work on his home or some other favor.
  3. If I'm not sure if I’m right and I don't want to embarrass a coworker. Due to the sensitive nature of public corruption investigations, appropriate measures are taken to ensure the individual's reputation is not adversely affected by incorrect or reckless allegations.
  4. What if I'm not sure it is corruption or government fraud at the state and local level? Call the FBI's Northern Virginia Public Corruption/ Government Fraud Task Force and let the task force determine if there is a violation of the public's trust. The job of the task force is to resolve allegations of wrongdoing either by gathering evidence to support a prosecution or by disproving the allegation.
  5. Does public corruption really have an impact on people's lives? Absolutely. Public corruption can take funding away from schools and even prevent streets from being re-paved. Taxpayers ultimately pay the final price for this fraud. In 2006, the Government Accountability Office estimates that at least 10 percent of the funding for federal government programs is lost to public corruption and government fraud every year, which can equal tens of billions of dollars.

 

 

Why should I help? Public corruption and government fraud is secretive in nature. If people who are aware of corruption and fraud don't report it, the corruption and fraud will continue.

 

 
Members of the Northern Virginia Public Corruption Task Force:
  1. FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
  2. IRS – Internal Revenue Service
  3. ICE – Immigration and Customs Enforcement
  4. HUD – Housing and Urban Development
  5. DOT – Department of Transportation
  6. DHS – Department of Homeland Security
  7. USPS – United States Postal Service
  8. HHS – Department of Health and Human Services

 

 
FBI Northern Virginia Corruption Contact Information: 
Phone: 703-686-6225
Fax: 703-686-6201
Address: FBI CR-12, 9325 Discovery Blvd. 
Manassas, VA 20109 
Please include:
  1. Specific acts of criminal activity;
  2. All information known about identity of suspects, including names, aliases, addresses, vehicles, physical description, and employment information;
  3. How do you know this information? Be specific.
  4. Your re-contact information (including phones and/email address).
 
 
ALL INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL
 
 

 

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