Fraud Working Group educates, informs employees

Published July 25, 2013
By AFNWC Judge Advocate's Office

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Kirtland Fraud Working Group seeks to educate government employees on fraud indicators involving procurements, in an effort to deter and detect fraud.

The group meets three times a year, and is open for contracting officers and representatives, as well as anyone involved in government acquisitions, including program managers, policy, financial and technical staff, and auditors.

At its May meeting, speakers covered topics such as defective pricing and coordination of procurement fraud remedies. Col. Robert Widmann, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center's director of contracting, facilitated questions and discussion, and emphasized the importance of being watchful for potential fraud.

"All personnel should remain vigilant for fraud, waste or abuse involving government contracts," Widmann said. "As taxpayers, we all have an interest that we get good value for our tax dollars, consistent with each contract's requirements."

Howard Thomas, the assistant United States attorney for the New Mexico district, said his office is dedicated to investigating any meritorious case involving procurement fraud, and aggressively prosecuting such cases, regardless of dollar value.

He said the important factor is that the government should be made whole when it is wrongfully abused by theft. That could mean the contractor facing civil or criminal charges.

Thomas teams with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations for disposition of cases, and those suspecting fraud should report it to the AFOSI by calling 846-0999.

Laura Atkinson, a contracts attorney at Kirtland who provides local support for the FWG, said to report fraud, "indisputable evidence" is not necessary; even suspicions of fraud should be reported.

"Considering the tremendous economic challenges the Department of Defense is facing, deterring fraud should be more of a priority," she said. "We need to foster greater attention to detail in our government duties, and be vigilant in detecting methods used by contractors to steal from the government."

To be included in the mailing list for future FWG events, email Atkinson at laura.atkinson@kirtland.af.mil.

The Air Force Regional Counsel for the FWG is John Case, who can be reached at 937-904-7157.