ASVAB fraud: Sentencing July 25 in Guard test bribery

[unhappycamper]

Sentencing July 25 in Guard test bribery
--> http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/07/army_guardbribe_070714w/ <--
By Michelle Tan
Posted : Monday Jul 16, 2007 9:31:09 EDT


A federal employee will be sentenced July 25 for accepting bribes to falsify Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test results for applicants to the Army National Guard.

Christine P. Thomas will be sentenced under a plea agreement in U.S. District Court in Tucson, Ariz., for conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official.

Thomas was a test examiner for the Office of Personnel Management when, between September 2000 and February 2002, she received a total of about $1,500 in cash for boosting ASVAB scores for about 70 applicants, according to court documents. The documents also state that Thomas conspired with Guard recruiters when determining which test scores to manipulate.

ASVAB scores are used to determine whether an applicant qualifies to join the military and what military specialty or job he can do.

The maximum penalty for the charge against Thomas is five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and three years’ probation. Part of her plea agreement has Thomas waiving her right against self-incrimination and cooperating with prosecutors.

In or about September 2000, Thomas told an Arizona Guard recruiter that she had falsified ASVAB scores in the past, according to court documents. She then offered to manipulate test results for applicants identified by that recruiter and certain other Arizona Guard recruiters, the documents said.


http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/07/army_guardbribe_070714w/

[Maq]

1. What did you expect see these recent articles

What do you expect when...

1. More entering Army with criminal records
By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | July 13, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Nearly 12 percent of Army recruits who entered basic training this year needed a special waiver for those with criminal records, a dramatic increase over last year and 2 1/2 times the percentage four years ago, according to new Army statistics obtained by the Globe.

2. Fewer high-quality Army recruits
As war needs rise, exam scores drop
By Bryan Bender and Kevin Baron, Globe Correspondent | June 1, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The percentage of high-quality recruits entering the Army is the lowest in 10 years, an indication that the force is struggling to attract top-grade enlistees -- and a troubling sign for the Pentagon, which is waging wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and plans to add 90,000 ground troops to its ranks within the next five years.

[unhappycamper]

2. Welcome to DU Maq!

:hi:

[Maq]

3. thanks unhappycamper

subject was of interest to me. Retired USAF long time ago. Was a Recruiter after NAM.

[unhappycamper]

4. Welcome home, Brother.

IMO, we have descended into dangerous territory - 11+% need waivers? Gimmeabreak. What do you think about the current crop of recruiters?

[Maq]

5. re:What do you think about the current crop of recruiters?

I haven't seen or heard anyone who is a current recruiter in years.
However; I deduce some past missteps.
Somethings make me wonder.

Given the high number of white people getting killed suggests that the number(s) are skewed in the wrong direction. Possibly (my opinion) because there was a near race riot near the close of the Viet Nam war, the Recruiting system for years concentrated on recruiting rural white folk. Generally those from poorer economic areas which are recognized as Red States now. Sorta grab that kid who is about to roam to see the big city lights.

The State National Guard system found their recruits in their local areas which were not to far from the poorer black neighborhoods. The Guard system has to depend on a stable population of individuals who are not likely to leave the neighborhood. Economically, young black kids are not as likely to roam as the jobs are not always available to them especially in a strange out of State neighborhood. But within their original neighborhood, they are still fodder for the recruiter.

When I recruited, the best source of Accessions as we called a new body was a Prior Serviceman/woman. Of course, we had a huge crop of prior service individuals recently discharged from Viet Nam. Today, the demographic potential is different. BUT they are allowed to enlist women in higher numbers. In my day the career fields were just starting to open up to women.

Todays recruiter should still concentrate on finding economically disadvantaged individuals to ease the job of recruiting. This may mean going after the minority or playing the gender game and go after women.

I also see an opportuniy to seek out the older prior service man/woman. Those people in their late forties or fifties. It is legal to take them in. I took in one guy who was sixty something once.

Most jobs in the military do not take much education to be proficient. You don't need a college degree to pull a trigger.

Look at the Private Military Corporations, they are recruiting from the third world to fill their positions. There is very little difference between driving a Prius and a Tractor Trailer.

[Maq]

6. just glanced at your journal. I'm impressed

I may transfer my pseudo-blog from orfay to here. If the rules permit.

[Maq]

7. FBI Lively Green Corruption Sting connection "Case Closed"

FBI Lively Green corruption sting

Christine P. Thomas, 53, was sentenced to three years probation and a $1,500 fine under terms of a plea deal. She pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official.

Thomas took bribes to boost test scores for about 70 Guard applicants between 2000 and 2002. Test scores help determine what job a recruit may be assigned. A test rigging investigation led to the broader probe of cocaine smuggling after a Guard recruiter tried to sell an FBI agent a pound of cocaine.

Thomas avoided prison time in part because she gave the FBI "significant information" about an unrelated drug-trafficking operation. Prosecutors said her tip-off led to two arrests and the seizure of 4,000 pounds of marijuana.


Added input "This led the FBI to initiate the "Lively Green corruption sting". The stings resulted in the arrest and conviction of a bunch of fellow Guardsmen, Recruiters, Police Officers and Corrections Guards, from Texas to Oklahoma."

One Source: http://www.kpho.com/news/13774835/detail.html

[unhappycamper]

8. Thanks for the update.

Too bad about no prison time. :thumbsdown: