Army uncovers widespread fraud in recruiting program

[unhappycamper]

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/02/army-uncovers-widespread-fraud-recruiting-program

Army uncovers widespread fraud in recruiting program
By Ernesto Londono
The Washington Post
© February 4, 2014

WASHINGTON

Army criminal investigators are looking into allegations that hundreds of National Guard recruiters and others with ties to the military abused an enlistment-referral program established at the height of the Iraq war, officials disclosed Monday, describing a racket that appears to have gone undetected for years.

~snip~

Army criminal investigators are probing the actions of more than 1,200 individuals who collected suspect payouts totaling more than $29 million, according to officials who were briefed on the preliminary findings of the investigation and would discuss them only on the condition of anonymity. More than 200 officers are suspected of involvement, including two generals and dozens of colonels.

The alleged fraud drew in recruiters, soldiers and civilians with ties to the military who submitted, or profited from, false referrals registered on a website run by a marketing firm the Army hired to run the program. Suspects often obtained the names of people who had enlisted from recruiters, claimed them as their referrals, and then kicked back some of the bonus money to the recruiters.

The abuse is feared to be so widespread that Army investigators do not expect to conclude all audits and investigations before the fall of 2016.

[Kelvin Mace]

1. OK, who didn't see this coming?