Who is the mystery person redacted in the subcontractor Russ Reid FAR violation found in OIG report?

Written by Biloxi

It's a gift that keeps on giving in a very unbalanced, very tainted, and corrupted department. As you know, Inspector General Glenn Fine's report on former OJJDP Administrator J Robert Flores was a redacted report [see pic above]. Fine blackened out Special Agent, Special Agent-in-charge, and others in relation to the Flores investigation. What caught my eye that is not discussed in the media is mystery person redacted along with Flores and Flores' chief of staff Michele DeKonty from the report directed an Office of Justice Program (OJP) contractor, ICF International, to subcontract and engagewith a specific company, Russ Reid, which was a violation according to the report.

OIG Report:

OJP's Office of General Counsel referred an additional allegation relating to Flores to the OIG. The allegations was that Flores, OJJDP Chief of Staff Michele DeKonty, and [redacted name] directed an OJP contractor, ICF International, to subcontract with a specific company, Russ Reid, to
provide training to faith-based organizations on sustainability without federal funds. The allegation was that the contract violated the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and OJP Office of Administration Procurement Operating Procedures. The OIG also investigated this allegation.

And Inspector General Fine found no evidence of conflict or enrichment in regards to ICF contract and Russ Reid contract. Pg. 26:

IEF and Russ Reid Contract: There is no evidence of any conflict or enrichment by
anyone, including Mr. Flores, with respect to the ICF contract and subcontract to Russ
Reid. Yet, somehow, the Report concludes that he should have been more sensitive to a
conflict that did not exist. Mr. Flores relied on the advice of career staff, including his
COTR, on the awarding of these contracts. There is no evidence that he was aware that
his COTR had exceeded his authority; indeed there are many emails in which he
defended his COTR because he had assured Mr. Flores that he had properly followed all
rules and regulations. Mr. Flores fully and completely cooperated with the internal
inquiry.

So who is Russ Reid company? Russ Reid company is one of the nation's largest marketing and communications firm serving nonprofit organizations. See here. And Russ Reid company have lobbyists working for the firm. See here. And here.

And what about the mystery person involved in the violation? According to the OIG report, the mystery person is a male, he was relieved of his duties [meaning fired] by OJP in February 2009, and currently works for the Department of Homeland Security:

During our investigation we learned that [redacted name] was relieved of COTR duties by OJP as a result of this incident, [redacted name] left the Department in February 2009. He is now employed at theDepartment of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection. This report should be included in [redacted name] personnel file and OJP should consider providing notice of [redacted name]misconduct to the Department of Homeland Security.

My question is why is this person still working for the government? This is more of a hand slap to this person and not actually holding him accountable for his actions in the OJP division. More importantly, has OJP place a misconduct notice in this mystery person's file? If so, is the Department of Homeland Security going to keep or fire this mystery person?

Definitely, Attorney General Eric Holder has a lot on his plate to clean up the Justice Department. And the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention should be high on his list to do.