WASHINGTON D.C. –-(Ammoland.com)- A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) whistleblower exposed Bureau administrative employees fleecing the American taxpayers for possibly millions of dollars.
The whistleblower only identified as Joe told CBS that multiple employees filed for and received “LEAP” pay even though they did not qualify for the bonus scale. LEAP stands for “Law Enforcement Availability Pay.” It is meant for paying law enforcement officers for on-call hours where they are required to work long and odd hours. The pay is not meant for non-law enforcement employees of the ATF, and non-LEO is expressly prohibited from collecting the income. The ATF pays a rate of 25% over base pay. If an employee makes a base salary of $100,000, that officer could be paid $125,000 with LEAP pay.
“If you were functioning in an administrative capacity, you don’t qualify for the pay. So, you’re not supposed to get it,” Joe said. “A lot of people were getting it.”
In 2016, the whistleblower noticed the problem of administrative employees claiming LEAP pay shortly after taking a job as an information specialist in the ATF’s Human Resources department. Joe reported the violations to his supervisors. Instead of rewarding him for finding fraud, his employee review was downgraded from “fully successful” to “minimally successful.” Last summer, the ATF fired Joe for “unacceptable performance,” which he believes was retaliatory for his discoveries.
Last year, a lawyer for the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) claimed the agency found “a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing.” The OSC is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency whose mission is to investigate whistleblower’s claims.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) performed an audit on ATF employees filing for and receiving LEAP pay. The audit turned up at least 94 employees that collected LEAP pay when they were not entitled to the money. OPM stated that the ATF engaged in “prohibited personnel practices.” OPM suspended the ATF’s ability to create specific jobs for “no less than six months.”
OPM did not state the fate of the ATF employees that defrauded American taxpayers out of taxpayer’s money. It is not known of any disciplinary action or if the employees were forced to pay back the money. The exact amount of funds incorrectly paid out to administrative employees is also not known. It is also not known for how long the fraud has been going on inside the Bureau.
A recent AmmoLand News story recently highlighted a leaked video conference call where Acting Director Marvin Richardson announced the ATF’s goal to double in size over the next five years. Many in the gun world worry that this goal, along with the mismanagement of current funds, could affect gun rights and waste money that could be used for things like clearing out the NFA backlog.
Some gun rights groups and government waste watchdogs see this uncovered fraud as yet another example of an out-of-control agency abusing its power and changing the rules as it sees fit. Many believe that the ATF works outside the law by changing definitions to meet its political goals and sees the firing of Joe as internal political payback.
The ATF did not respond to AmmoLand’s request for comments.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
The system has been broken for years .
Each branch has failed in the check and balance department.
They are all very willing to let the other run amuck.
@Mac,
Actually, our sharing of ideas, information, debates (even amateurish debate), and criticism of the various governments are one of the checks on the system of government that the founding fathers contemplated.
There are many checks on the system of government that people do not recognize, but see everyday. We need to get back to teaching our uniquely American system to the youth, even as early as grade school.
We need to get back to the Constitution.
@Mac,
And I am up voting you, as well!
History classes in high school should include detailed discussions of the policies of Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson.
It would be helpful if students understand that socialism and a huge government started a long time ago in the U.S.
There should also be a high school class on economics and finance that clearly shows that taxes on civilians to pay the disability and pension programs for non-civilians is unsustainable.
If that does not go back at least to the former corporate railroad lawyer who, once the reins were in hsi hands ordered the invasion of a soveriegn foreign nation after a false flag “event” he twisted to get the public behind him.
A year of real economics in high scholl would also be good.. no bokok ever published on the subject beats Thomas Sowell’s Basic Economics. A semester of examing the Federalist Papers should also be mandatory.
There are a lot of totalitarians who post here. They want a militaristic, totalitarian government in which the fruit of the labor of civilians is confiscated and redistributed to an ever-growing number of government employees, particularly those who are non-civilians.
correct, but that will NOT happen until the entire government funded/controlled “educatioi” system is dismantled and once moreput back into the hands of local communities. That lso means terminatoing any “right to representation” by schoolstaaff/administrators. The teacher unions are merely the strongs and levers wby which “educatioin” is directed by the fat cts raking in the Big Bux.
For that matter, ending ALL public emplyee unions would fix a whole big truckload of problems plaguing us. Never should have happened.
Folks, our federal government is rotten top to bottom. Corruption is the foundation upon which a rogue federal agency is built. We are now there. The federal government has gone rogue.
It went rogue during the war for Southern Independence.
the war for Southern ‘Independence’.
“Independence” = SLAVERY for blacks.
Orwellian (Democrat) double talk.
One really can not judge the rightness or wrongness of slavery at that time, by today’s standards. At that time, slavery, and the class system had been the rule for about ten thousand years of human history. Abolishing slavery was a forced idea by Northeast coast, blue nose, liberals that thought they were more moral and ethical than everyone else.
Proper analysis requires that one go back to that context.
One really can judge slavery by today’s standards & those of the time. It wasn’t ‘liberals’ abolishing or ‘conservatives’ trying to keep it. The abolitionist spearhead was devout Protestants whose ancestors condemned slavery even before the American Revolution, descendants of Christians who came in the 1600s escaping religious tyranny. I’ve read many of their commentaries & sermons. They didn’t think they were more moral than everyone else. But they were clearly more moral than Democrat slavers (ancestors of today’s ‘cheap labor’ set) & today’s callous half-informed apologists. Proper analysis requires taking it out of the context of revisionist propaganda.
Well … you have a Constitutional Right to hold as amateurish opinion as you desire.
As usual, nothing but handwaving, smarm, cowardly evasion and projection — your leftist M.O.
You & your thug fanboy WillTEX should get a room and explore each other with all your sock puppets.
As usual, nothing but entertaining yourself by name calling, prevarication, and illogical conclusions. Maybe… that is why you are so popular, here.
Mr Ad Hominem Snark cries namecalling, cites sock votes as evidence of correctness & relative ‘popularity’ he lives for. You & those poopy-mouth thug enforcer sock toadies are funny. What’s next? Troll cries troll? Consensus ‘science’? Don’t go changin’!
Analyzing a long past event out of context or by modern rules can not get the analyst to a logical conclusion.
You ‘analyze’ it with glib evasive sketchy generalities. Try your pro-slavery poseur shtick on black Republicans. Clarence Thomas, Mark Robinson, Billy Prempeh etc. That’d be a hoot.
@wjd,
Yep, the Northern states had an economic advantage over the Southern states, and used politics and taxation to keep it that way. And then … they used the army. That should be a lesson for all of us.
All apologia aside, the South could’ve given up slavery and there would’ve been no Civil War. Few in the North would’ve fought a war over anything else.
The South’s crybaby apologists would’ve kept blacks condemned to slavery. The Southern racists they excuse were Democrats who kept blacks enslaved for another 100 years then reinslaved them.
The North could have refrained from invading, and there would have been no civil war.
Those ninety-four employees should get their hearings; be terminated; then their supervisory chain that should have been preventing this, should get their hearings and be terminated. Supervisors not supervising.
Eliminate the rot by eliminating the agency. That is the only cure
@ring,
Yes, that would be better. It might be a little more difficult and take a little longer to accomplish.
Jail time. Pay back every last dime.
with interest at 12.5% since the date each overpayment was tendered. Lump sum payback. Take their houses new pickup trucks.. this amonuts to felony fraud, so no more guns for any of them.
Does any of this really surprise anyone ? These people in the BATF are nothing but a bunch of criminals . Time to disband this alphabet soup agency as they are corrupt and do not serve the American people .
While I appreciate the probity of the BATF Whistle blower how many years has this been allowed & continue to metastasize ?
LEAP program doesn’t exclusively apply to only BATF either.
Anybody else see a infinite glutinous corrupt Juggernaut that’s out of control ?
What the ATF did to Joe happens all the time in private sector! Especially in the medical field! Government over reach has become a hideous monster! They do not like the american citizens to be armed! Bc they cannot get the total control they want! They stopped working for the citizens of our so called “Free” country many years ago! What the “political elite”, “Rulers” of America want is dominance total control of their subjects!
The ATF is no different from them!
They stopped working for the citizens of our so called “Free” country many years
at LEAST as far back as the ultra corrupt Lincoln administratioin.
The LAPD enforces firearm laws that are even more draconian than the laws enforced by the BATFE.
our government does a very poor job on ensuring our tax dollars are spent well. people are inherently greedy, especially government employees. waste, fraud and abuse of our tax money is rampant throughout the abc agencies. if this would stop, ol’ joe could fund his 3.5T, cost free budget and we would have money left over. if only they spent our money like it wasn’t theirs. elimination of position and agencies is the answer.
The first step towards resolving this stuff is for everyone to accept the fact that it can’t be fixed at the ballot box.
Most folks who talk in Tiger Talk code never seriously sacrificed to make the ballot box work. Never organized, donated, or volunteered to win campaigns. Self-serving excuse to do nothing. And we don’t see Chatroom Commandos on the news leading by example.
TIME FOR ATF TO GO!!!
@RTG,
I concur. All it would take is a memo because the ATF was created by a memo. No enabling act by Congress protects them.
return them to irs and take their guns alcohol and tobacco and prostitutes
NO End them. Completely dismantle the entire organisation permanently
@swmft,
I dunno.Taking their prostitutes might be going one step too far!
I was thinking regulating and taxing
but you may be right ,they would determine that a blowup doll is bought therefor is a prostitute
@Wild Bill
I agree. I don’t want their prostitutes. I also don’t want to pay for those prostitutes.
@wjd The ATF was created by a memo from the Secretary of the Treasure, directing that part of his assets be used for alcohol, tobacco, and firearms tax collection. That is easy to understand. Over many years, the ATF received more subject matter and missions and budget. Sounds reasonable. A couple of decades ago, BATFE was transferred to the department of Homeland Security, but Congress never has gotten around to passing an act making the BATFE into an agency. Thus with no federal Act creating and protecting the BATFE, all it would take is a memo from the Sec. of… Read more »
@wjd
Yep, there is an oversight there that can be used, but there is no magic wand.
Fraud….that would be a felony. So all of these folks have been fired and charged, and their ability to work for the government is now gone, yes?
No?
I served 27 years in the Navy and can guarantee you that anytime we were overpaid the disbursing office was right on top of it and the overpayment was deducted from our next pay checks! BUT, I’ll wager none of the ATF people had to pay back a dime!
@Bill
Thank you for your service.
They came for LARRY VICKERS and confiscated all bis guns!!!!
what makes you think they aren’t coming for you?
Let them come. I’m annoyed with my dogs lately. They better bring some painting supplies, too, and I need some tractor work done as well. If anyone comes onto my property with guns, they better be ready to be extremely polite, or to die. I’ve already determined that such a situation imvolving any such criminal gang would require immediate self-defense, because I have a reasonable fear for my safety and my life if armed intruders show up here, regardless of their attire. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6, and better to die on your feet than… Read more »
Corruption runs deep throughout the Biden administration !!!
The whistleblower noticed the problem in 2016.
It appears as though the fraud was taking place prior to the Trump administration and may have continued in the Trump administration.
It appears as though the whistleblower was persecuted during the Trump administration, but the article wasn’t very well written.
Can you be more specific?
@JSNMGC, That was funny!
I try to never forget rule #32: https://www.zombielandrules.com/zombieland-rule-32-enjoy/ This board doesn’t offer much in the way of interesting discussion about the degradation of firearm rights (or organizing activism to hold flip-flopping politicians accountable), but there are a lot of positions that are humorous. John wrote in the article that the fraud was noticed in 2016. What is the response from the torch and pitchfork crowd? “Corruption runs deep throughout the Biden administration !!!” Four upvotes – yeah! That happens frequently. People have become angry when the facts are pointed out. Biden, his handlers, and his administration are horrible on their… Read more »
See?
I’m sensing W[B]ill’s a bit of a b1tch.
I don’t know.
I just enjoy the incongruity here. It never ends.
Corruption Runs Deep through this whole Modern Government! Most, if not All Politicians are Corrupted.
I agree.
WTF does “Loool” mean? Laugh out out out loud while droooling?
If your still thinking it’s all the Dems fault & stuck on thinking it’s Democrips vs. Rebloodlicans then you don’t have any real skin in the game. It’s not difficult to figure out or uncover the truth of the whole Roman Masonic System of rule.
Just requires some independent thinking, research & small amount of reading.
I expect atf agents to be despicable thieves and criminals.
they should all have their dogs shot and their houses burned to the ground while they sleep.
Death before dishonor…..f ‘em
Well now, you’re on their list. Along with millions of others.
Just bringing back an oldie but goodie. From one year ago: Read more: https://www.ammoland.com/2020/02/are-wa-armed-citizens-being-penalized-for-seattle-shooting/#ixzz78n5gCHw2 Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Follow us: @Ammoland on Twitter | Ammoland on Facebook Dave Workman 1 year ago Reply to Superman And, so…Supe, what are YOU doing to change that? Are you working to get more gun owners registered.Are you planning a “ballot party” this fall to get a lot of your buds together, MAKE SURE they fill out their ballots and then get those ballots to a drop box? Are you working with other folks to do get-out-the-vote efforts in your community? You recruiting anybody to run for office to… Read more »
WOW so you are saying ATF employees are crooks and can’t be trusted????? DO TELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@JayWolf,
Who are you? For whom do you work?
Apparently, Jay the Wolf had to write a memo to his controller asking what his response should be.
Answer your own question: For whom do and did you work?
@8r,
I will be very proud to tell you who I work for, if you tell us your career first.
Well, before this gig, WB, he was Superman who also was a retired LEO. I imagine his job was dog catcher, and after 2 years was forced to retire because he had no catches. Now he lives downstairs with his keyboard and his poor mommy living upstairs, who is begging him to get married and start a real liife. Well, you know the problem with that. Maybe in his next life he will play Clark Kent, the aspiring reporter, who can’t find a phone booth. Either way, he has little chance of success in this life and any future fantasies… Read more »
Will, I be doing real well……Thanks for asking .Ever since I made my way back to Langley, where I enjoyed a ten year career in spyism. and yes I had a need to know. On my return home from my visit, I had pretty much figured out what happened with Superman and I am sure, since we are all aware that yes; Ruskee is the former Superman. I think I might of got his email, but am not sure. It is, I think, [email protected].
Sarcasm of course…..Rooskey don’t get it, so I am safe.
I see.
But it is like you’re a 2-trick pony. Answer your own Q: For whom do & did you work, WillTEX?
“LMFAO!”
@wjd,
it is what he said as if he was in the BATFE. And we know that they do monitor this site.