WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is conducting a complex investigation into cross-border aid programs providing humanitarian relief in Syria. These programs are run from both Turkey and Jordan by multiple nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with funds from USAID and other international donors.
Recent international press reports have raised issues of irregularities involving some of these programs.

WASHINGTON – A former contracting officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development (“USAID”), Waymon A. Carroll, 61, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to one count of making a false claim, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 287, Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Adrienne R. Rish, USAID Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, announced today.

WASHINGTON -    An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to solicit kickbacks in connection with the award of a private security .se rvices subcontract to protect U.S. government personnel and contractors in Afghanistan, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, Assistant Attorney General Christine A. Varney of the Antitrust Division and U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia.

WASHINGTON – Delmar Dwayne Spier, the chief executive officer and managing director of United States Protection and Investigations, LLC (USPI), today pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to conspiracy, major fraud and wire fraud arising from an alleged scheme to defraud the United States; and his wife, Barbara Edens Spier, the president and owner of USPI, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with U.S.-sponsored rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A.

WASHINGTON - An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to solicit a kickback in connection with the award of a private security services subcontract to protect U.S. government personnel and contractors in Afghanistan, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney of the Antitrust Division and U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride for the Eastern District of Virginia.

WASHINGTON - A 46-year-old former Health Development Officer with the United States Agency for International Development (“USAID”), Michael J. Andreini, pleaded guilty today to one count of Making a False Statement for submitting a fictitious receipt to USAID in support of a travel voucher, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Adrienne R. Rish, USAID Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. The Honorable Deborah A. Robinson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia presided over the plea hearing. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 26, 2010.

WASHINGTON, DC - Donald A. Gambatesa, Inspector General for the United States Agency for International Development, announced today that Ali Mohamed Bagegni, 56, formerly of Columbia, Mo., pleaded guilty in Federal court on April 6, 2010, for his role in a conspiracy to illegally transfer funds to Iraq in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

WASHINGTON, DC - The Inspectors General for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of State, and the Department of Defense have issued their first Quarterly Progress and Oversight Report on the Civilian Assistance Program in Pakistan. The report covers the period from October 15, 2009, when the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 became law, through March 31, 2010.

WASHINGTON, DC - Last week in Kabul Ahman Samim Sediqi, an Afghan citizen working on a community development project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), was arrested by Afghan law enforcement authorities, announced USAID Acting Assistant Inspector for Investigations Dona M. Dinkler. USAID’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) in Kabul assisted with the investigation that led to the arrest.