USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated an investigation in response to a series of misconduct allegations against a Foreign Service Officer (FSO) serving as the controller in a USAID mission overseas. The allegations related to travel fraud, fraudulent claims for Voluntary Separate Maintenance Allowance payments, falsification of a military leave order, and possible false statements on a COVID-19 pandemic relief application.
OIG found that the employee, an untenured FSO, submitted fraudulent military orders to USAID, engaged in travel fraud during a permanent change of station between USAID missions, and submitted fraudulent hotel receipts to obtain unjustified travel reimbursements.
OIG provided an interim referral to USAID. In response, USAID curtailed the employee’s assignment, placed them on administrative leave, and subsequently suspended their security clearance. USAID also issued the FSO a bill of collections in the amount of $4,083 for the fraudulent travel expenses.