[US] Major payroll fraud allegation from ex-ATF employee

There are new allegations of payroll fraud at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms potentially involving hundreds of millions of tax dollars, 9 & 10 News reports.

A former employee, “Joe,” who asked to remain anonymous, was employed in a role at the ATF human resources department in 2016.

During his time in HR, Joe noticed that personnel doing administrative jobs were being paid special bonuses called “law enforcement availability pay” or LEAP.

Ordinarily, LEAP is reserved for criminal investigators who work on call and can be required to keep atypical or antisocial hours.

After Joe brought the discrepancy to the attention of his supervisors, he alleges that his record was changed from being a “fully successful” employee to “minimally successful.” He was subsequently fired from the agency in the summer of 2020.

A lawyer for the Office of Special Counsel says it found evidence revealing that 94 employees were inappropriately given this extra pay.

Investigators are reportedly concerned about the implications if similar practices are being carried out in other government agencies.

There are new allegations of payroll fraud at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms potentially involving hundreds of millions of tax dollars, 9 & 10 News reports.

A former employee, “Joe,” who asked to remain anonymous, was employed in a role at the ATF human resources department in 2016.

During his time in HR, Joe noticed that personnel doing administrative jobs were being paid special bonuses called “law enforcement availability pay” or LEAP.

Ordinarily, LEAP is reserved for criminal investigators who work on call and can be required to keep atypical or antisocial hours.

After Joe brought the discrepancy to the attention of his supervisors, he alleges that his record was changed from being a “fully successful” employee to “minimally successful.” He was subsequently fired from the agency in the summer of 2020.

A lawyer for the Office of Special Counsel says it found evidence revealing that 94 employees were inappropriately given this extra pay.

Investigators are reportedly concerned about the implications if similar practices are being carried out in other government agencies.