229 replies to this topic

[Retired and loving it]

To ALL who have sent their support. Thank you. My official response to ATF's proposal to terminate me is due tomorrow. It will then be in Gods hands and I'm good with that. Many of you have assisted in ways to numerous to acknowledge. For those of you who care or are just curious how this all came about and what the FACTS are, I will be posting the response in its entirety as the law allows. Much Love and Semper Fidelis. For those who are inclined, I accept ALL prayers.

The very best wishes (and prayers) to you Vince. Like many in ATF, I have seen how Professional Review Boards, Chief Counsel's Offices, and management in general shaft people. With our reshuffled management I doubt that much will change but perhaps fellows like you, Jay, and others who have the fortitude (and money) to fight can prevail in your own cases -- I certainly hope so!

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

To ALL who have sent their support. Thank you. My official response to ATF's proposal to terminate me is due tomorrow. It will then be in Gods hands and I'm good with that. Many of you have assisted in ways to numerous to acknowledge. For those of you who care or are just curious how this all came about and what the FACTS are, I will be posting the response in its entirety as the law allows. Much Love and Semper Fidelis. For those who are inclined, I accept ALL prayers.

[Doc Holiday]

Pretty compelling.

Don't listen to me, and don't listen to the Agents and Inspectors who are confronting the issues in ATF. BUT you better listen to Congress and you may want to listen to a 6 term U.S. Congressman who with Senator Dennis Diconcini SAVED this Bureau after our last bunch of executive staff thought they TOO were above the law. Many of you weren't around then, but for the efforts of Congressman Jim Lightfoot, you would NOT be an ATF Agent today. He chaired the sub-committee for our appropriations. The man is a died in the wool ATF LOVER. This is what he has to say today. Yes Today. Mr. Brandon, you were here. Mr. Jones you were not, but it is in the Congressional record. BETTER LISTEN
READ BELOW
It’s a Culture Thing
Author
- Jim Ross Lightfoot Thursday, October 20, 2011

As the US House Oversight Committee continues its investigation into the disastrous “Fast and Furious” operation authorized under the umbrella of the Department of Justice (DOJ) most rank and file Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents are hoping that major steps will be taken to root out the incompetent supervisors that saw fit to pursue such a misguided and illegal operation.

Following a House Oversight Committee hearing that exposed the gross incompetence of Phoenix ATF Supervisor William Newell, his assistant George Gillett, Special Agents David Voth and Deputy Assistant Director William McMahon were all laterally transferred from operational positions and moved into administrative roles at ATF headquarters in Washington, DC. Those familiar with the interworking of ATF believe this was a move to protect the architects of Fast and Furious from losing their jobs and pensions.

This points out a huge difference between the government and the private sector. A similar situation in the private sector would have resulted in those involved being immediately fired. Additionally, the seriousness of the illegal activities of Fast and Furious would have led to a series of arrests and indictments. That didn’t happen at ATF.
ATF is hostage to an ingrained culture that has brought the agency nearly to its knees

ATF is hostage to an ingrained culture that has brought the agency nearly to its knees in the past and will do it again and again if it is not changed. Only Congress can make the changes that are needed and, to date, no one has stepped up to the plate to do the heavy lifting.

The problems plaguing ATF are not uncommon in Federal Agencies, however, ATF is in a rather unique position that tends to draw negative attention other agencies do not receive. The agency’s primary mission is the enforcement of the Nation’s firearm laws. These laws are unpopular and very controversial.

People unhappy with the gun laws tend to focus their anger on ATF. In reality, this is killing the messenger, as the focus should be on the people that make the laws, the Congress. Regardless, many within ATF management have adopted a hunker-down, cover-my-rear attitude. Unfortunately, that type of thinking permeates the management operation of the agency.

There is a distinct, and wide, culture difference between the field agents and their supervisors and headquarters ATF management.

Field agents are mission driven and feel a strong responsibility to protect people from those that use guns for unlawful purposes. They are viewed by local law enforcement as the best Federal agency to cooperate with. The people ATF agents deal with on a day-to-day basis are the worst of the violent criminal element.

In the past, under a strong, mission oriented Director the headquarters operation has demonstrated that it can function in a very positive manner.

However, without that oversight it has become an animal house of self-preservation and personal promotion. Management personnel habitually make false representations to the Congress. Money appropriated by the Congress for specific programs is routinely used for purposes that better suit the wishes and desires of HQ personnel rather than their intended purposes.

When asked by the Congress why a certain program is not meeting expectations the usual line is to blame it on the vendors that supply the agency. Meanwhile, the vendors are consistently told that there is just not enough funding available to meet the requirements of the vendor’s contract.

The legal department is famous for its ability to fabricate cases against agents and retaliate on those that “don’t toe the line.”
Forensic audit of the agency and deep, painstaking Congressional investigation into all headquarters operations and personnel is needed

At first blush it might appear that a strong, mission oriented Director would solve the problem. It would help; there has not been a permanent Director at ATF in six years.

However, a forensic audit of the agency and deep, painstaking Congressional investigation into all headquarters operations and personnel is needed. Management practices and established procedures within headquarters should be examined and replaced if needed. Those currently in management positions that are found in violation of good practices should be removed.

Accountability must be restored.

Congress has the responsibility to exercise more and rigid oversight over the agency. The ball is in their court.
If you have an interest in reading more regarding ATF go here. http://canadafreepre...p/article/41507

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

Someone, preferably Acting Director Jones, PLEASE explain the "reset". In football, when the team has losing season after losing season, they FIRE the coaching staff. They don't just rearrange them. In corporate America when the CEO, CFO COO fail to turn a profit, the are replaced. They don't fire or attack the work force. I, Congress, Your Agents, Inspectors,Clerical staff, The OIG, and OSC and EEOC have all provided you with resounding HARD evidence of Gross mismanagement, waste fraud and abuse, violations of rule, law and policy, abuse and reprisals against whistle-blowers, judicial misconduct by your attorneys, perjury by your executive staff, and you have kept EVERY single manager in the loop and inner circle. While signing off on garbage termination packages against line agents and new hire employees. REALLY. Not much of a reset at all. As a matter of parliamentary procedure you DON'T need to wait for the OIG to take these guys and gals out of play. YOU'RE THE DIRECTOR. You have the entire DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE cadre at your disposal. Outsiders with no dirt, and a proven leadership track record for a brief period would show your courage and genuine intent to right this ship. Garbage in garbage out. JUST placing a couple competent guys in the loop Like Brandon, Stoop and Graham does not cleanse this poisoned gene pool. Remember sir, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is a popular definition of insanity. Give Brandon et al the backup they need. Until you at least take decisive action and at least bench Newell, Gillette, Voth, McMahon Chait and Hoover, you will have NO credibility with those watching. And although you have stated you are not concerned with CUATFs opinions, the HALF MILLION VIEWERS APPARENTLY ARE. We want to believe, we want OUR Bureau back and we want to Champion you and every other boss out there that we can. But you have to give us something to Champion. Nobody's saying violate these bosses due process and not allow their side to be heard, but some of us have been benched over the years for FAR less compelling, fabricated, manipulated half truths generated by corrupt managers with the help of Chief counsel and NOBODY DIED as a result of any of our actions. Final note: If YOUR, yes YOUR ATF attorneys have to demand protective orders in each and every dispute to conceal facts from the public or oversight mechanisms, in the law enforcement we call that a CLUE.
If you have nothing to hide, why are you hiding it? Lets open the books and show all of our hands. We can redact lawful privacy act info. Lets expose the IA investigations or in most cases NON investigations.

http://townhall.com/columnists/katiepavlich/2011/10/21/atf_ignored_death_threats,_tried_to_frame_whistleblower_agent_to_cover_corruption/page/2

ATF Ignored Death Threats, Tried to Frame Whistleblower Agent to Cover Corruption
By Katie Pavlich
10/21/2011
Jay Dobyns is a father, husband and 25-year, highly respected and highly decorated Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Special Agent. He was the first law enforcement agent to ever successfully infiltrate multiple layers of the notoriously dangerous and violent Hells Angels motorcycle gang through "Operation Black Biscuit." He has described the Hells Angels as having their "PhDs in violence," and worked undercover in the gang for two years. Dobyns has dedicated his life to undercover service for ATF and took a bullet through the lung at one point for the agency. Luckily, he survived.

Dobyns has put number of the nations’ most violent criminals behind bars, which naturally comes with threats from those criminals and their buddies in return. After he finished his work bringing down the Hells Angels, things were no different.

Approximately a year after Operation Black Biscuit concluded beginning in 2004 through 2008, Dobyns and ATF became aware of credible and substantial violent threats against him and his family. Those threats included plans to murder him either with a bullet or by injecting him with the AIDS virus, kidnapping and torturing his then 15-year-old daughter and kidnapping his wife in order to videotape a gang rape of her. Dobyns and ATF also learned contracts were solicited between the Hells Angels, the Aryan Brotherhood and the MS-13 gang to carry out these threats.

During Operation Black Biscuit, Dobyns operated as a special field agent under ATF Phoenix Field Office management. At the time of the threats, that management team included Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Phoenix Field Division William Newell, Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Gillett and ATF Deputy Assistant Director William McMahon, who served as Newell’s direct supervisor at the time. All were intimately involved in Operation Fast and Furious. Newell and McMahon have both testified before the House Oversight Committee regarding their roles in the lethal gun trafficking operation that deliberately put over 2,000 high powered weapons into the hands of ruthless Mexican drug cartels and lost south of the border.


These threats were laid out in prison letters and confirmed through FBI and ATF interviews of confidential informants inside the Florence Corrections Facility and the Arlington County Detention Center in Virginia. Also found circulating in the Florence Facility by a prisoner known as the captain of the Aryan Brotherhood named "WHITEY," was an extensive hit list with Jay Dobyns as a top target. Leaders of each gang in the prison had a copy of list and had been given "permission to kill" persons listed according to ATF documents and interviews. Dobyns’ name, in addition to a detailed description of his appearance, also came up in prison yard talk.


"A confidential source stated that it observed WHITEY go into a box within his cell that contained a large number of letters. The confidential source stated that WHITEY pulled out a plain white envelope from within the box, removing a legal sized piece of paper that was full of names. The confidential source explained that the list was broken down into columns, with names, the affiliation of the person who was named and who had approved the “green light” (given permission to kill the person or who ordered the "hit"). The confidential source stated that while looking at the list he recalled several names on the list that were law enforcement officers (approximately 16 names), specifically stating the name "JAY DOBYNS ATF," a report from an interview conducted by ATF Special Agents Jeffery Grabman and Frank D’Alesio with FBI Special Agent Laura Kidwell present shows. "WHITEY knew Dobyns had a daughter, stating that if he were to find the daughter he would torture her."

Grabman, D'Alesio and Kidwell verified these threats were credible and management agents in the Washington D.C. ATF office were practically begging the ATF Phoenix Field Office to the threats seriously and investigate.

Dobyns reported these threats to Special Agent in Charge William Newell, asking for protection for his family. The threats were based in Arizona and Dobyns lived in Arizona at the time. Newell was in charge of investigating and handling all threats made against agents working out of the ATF Phoenix Field Office. The threats were ignored. When Dobyns essentially "blew the whistle" on Newell, pointing out his failures to address violent death threats against a federal agent, he was retaliated against. Newell dismissed the threats and then covered up his blatant dismissal of those threats within the Phoenix Field Office.

Additionally, in response to the ATF/FBI interview, despite all the evidence the death threats were credible, Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Division John Torres, who like Newell has also been promoted into ATF headquarters, informed Dobyns through an email, "The Chief of Operations Security does not deem the emergency action is required as of this date and time."

Later, a DOJ Inspector General report concluded that management within the ATF Phoenix office, despite having the necessary resources, did not adequately address threats made against Dobyns and found "absence of any corrective measures proposed to address the failure to conduct timely and thorough investigations into the death threats made against Dobyns."

In addition, a U.S. Office of Special Counsel report concluded, "I note with concern the absence of any corrective measures proposed to address the failure to conduct timely and thorough investigations into the death threats made against Special Agent Dobyns. ATF does not appear to have held anyone accountable in this regard. Fully addressing the problems and failures identified in this care requires more than amending ATF policies and procedures. It requires that threats against ATF agents be taken seriously and pursued aggressively and that ATF officials at all level cooperate to ensure the timely and comprehensive investigation of threats leveled against its own agents."

On top of ignoring death threats, recently Dobyns' house was set on fire at 3 a.m. with his wife, son and daughter sleeping inside in a confirmed act of arson. It is suspected members of the Hells Angels, or close associates of the gang carried out the arson in retaliation of Dobyns’ undercover work.
When Dobyns reported the incident to both ATF and Newell and asked for an investigation into the case, Newell not only refused to investigate, calling the incident "just scorching," but allowed his subordinates, including Gillett, to attempt to frame Dobyns, accusing him of purposely burning down his own home with his family inside, has named him as a suspect and is investigating him. Newell conspired to destroy and fabricate evidence to "prove" his case. Emails, witness testimony, phone conversations and other documentation show the ATF Phoenix Field Divisions’ intentions, led by Newell, were to frame Dobyns, yet Newell denied under oath any involvement in this activity. His subordinates Gillett and ATF Tucson Group Supervisor over Operation Wide Receiver Charles Higman, also denied any attempts to frame Dobyns under oath, despite evidence showing otherwise.

The retaliatory actions of Newell, and other ATF management agents, were reported to ATF senior management at the highest levels and were ignored.

ATF is notorious for retaliatory action against field agents, but the Dobyns case brings that retaliation behavior to a new level. Credible death threats, backed by evidence from inside the prison system, the investigation of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel and the Office of the Inspector General in the Bush Justice Department, were ignored by ATF management in the Phoenix Field Division Office and at ATF headquarters in Washington D.C. Evidence of the threats was also sent to Congress and the President of the United States.


“Numerous mid-level ATF managers the senior leadership of three ATF field divisions and the Executive Staff of ATF in Washington D.C., along with ATF's Internal Affairs and the Chief Counsel office were all directly involved in, and responsible for the death threats against me. Unfortunately, mine is not an isolated incident. ATF management's pattern of reckless behavior in this area is institutional. It has been historically tolerated and promoted.” Dobyns wrote in a letter to an attorney in the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in late October 2008.

So why does this matter? Newell was the brainchild of Operation Fast and Furious in the ATF Phoenix Field office. Newell is also the agent who was in regular contact with a member of the White House national security team, Kevin O’Reilly, about the lethal program. Newell also said he would conduct Operation Fast and Furious again, despite two Americans and hundreds of innocent Mexicans dead as a result of the program.


Newell used Dobyns as a test run, to see just how much he could get away with in his management position within ATF before getting reprimanded. Considering nobody was held accountable for the mistakes made in handling death threats against Dobyns, Newell knew he had the green light to do whatever he wanted, at the highest levels of corruption. The Dobyns case empowered him. Newell was protected and defended for ignoring violent death threats against a federal agent, he had free reign to do what he wanted. This gave Newell everything he needed to get away with Operation Fast and Furious, which started in Fall 2009.

After allowing 2,000 guns to flow freely into the hands of dangerous Mexican cartels, Newell said under oath that he never let guns walk into Mexico, despite massive amounts of evidence, whistleblower testimony and detailed maps proving otherwise. Keep in mind, ATF Operation Fast and Furious Whistleblowers like John Dodson, Pete Forcelli and Vince Cefalu have all experienced retaliation for their efforts to expose corruption within ATF.

Since purposely ignoring death threats made against Dobyns, deliberately trafficking thousands of weapons into Mexico and repeatedly lying under oath, William Newell has been promoted to a position within ATF in Washington D.C. William McMahon is no different. He too was promoted and now oversees the ATF’s Office of Professional Responsibility and Security Operations or in other words, ATF’s Internal Affairs Division. George Gillett, who orchestrated the frame job against Dobyns was moved out of the ATF Phoenix office following his heavy involvement in Operation Fast and Furious and is now assigned as ATF’s liason to the U.S. Marshall’s Service in Washington D.C.

"ATF wasn’t going to do anything to Bill Newell. They were going to defend and protect him because he was their golden boy," Dobyns tells Townhall. "Why are you protecting this guy? What has he ever done to even deserve your loyalty let alone your protection?"

If ATF had taken steps to hold Newell, Gillett, McMahon and others responsible for their irresponsible actions surrounding the Dobyns case, Fast and Furious wouldn’t have happened, but because ATF openly rewards bad behavior and corruption, Fast and Furious was utterly predictable. ATF executive leadership left these people in place to rule in this agency. They left management in the ATF Phoenix Field Office in place despite documentation showing they were incompetent.

"The agency and the field agents in the agency know those stories and it’s demoralizing across the board because the agents, the people with their boots on the ground are going to say, 'You know what, Jay Dobyns went out there and laid it down for this agency and he’s getting attacked by the agency where a guy like Bill Newell who never left his desk, basically conducted his career with a suit and tie on is being protected.’ Even after all the things that everybody knows he did, he’s still being hidden and defended and protected,'" Dobyns says.

Throughout the years it has become clear that ATF is more interested in protecting and promoting the corrupt practices of the men who have made careers profiting off of corruption, obstruction of justice and lies, like Newell, rather than rewarding field agents taking out dangerous criminals like ATF Special Agent Jay Dobyns, ATF Operation Fast and Furious Whistleblowers John Dodson, Pete Forcelli, Vince Cefalu and others for their bravery and sacrifice to fight violent crime and for exposing corruption within the agency. The bottom line is, ATF as an agency doesn’t care about recommendations or evidence of misconduct, in fact, the agency rewards screw ups on a regular basis. The Dobyns case could be counted as the most reckless case of retaliation in ATF history, yet nobody has been held accountable for it.

"The identical techniques, tactics, practices and personnel that were used on me were repeated in Fast and Furious. You’ve got a flawed response plan that is not well thought out, both to the gun trafficking in Fast and Furious to the threats against me. You’ve got the same people who are at the tip of the spear in developing the plan to send thousands of weapons to Mexico and ignoring death threats and not realizing when it is failing. Then you’ve got the point when they get called out and caught in their bad acts both in Fast and Furious and my threat response. Then you go into the immediate denial of ‘no we didn’t do that.’ Then, when it starts to be proved, you go into the attack on the person that exposed it, that blew the whistle. They attacked me just like they attacked John Dodson and Pete Forcelli and those guys. Then you go into the cover-up where they are denying the evidence and hiding the evidence of what they did wrong and then you go into the lies under oath that they’re denying and raising their right hand, swearing to tell the truth and willingly and intentionally not telling the truth," Dobyns says.
(FHW - To be objective, it is a stretch to say that Fast and Furious has a connection to what was being done to Jay Dobyns. Persecution of Agents by management is almost an ATF tradition, but doing something so politically and strategically stupid as Fast and Furious is a whole new ball game. An ATF management that is quite timid to powers they cannot control does not risk itself like this. They do what they want to Agents under their control, but they do not challenge their own bosses.
This article names William Newell, the ATF Special Agent in Charge in Phoenix at the time as the originator of Fast and Furious. And even says that Newell says that if he had it to do over again, he would. Obviously, a slow learner. If Fast and Furious did originate in ATF Phoenix with Newell, and then passed muster all the way up the line of review, including DOJ, there had to be an unbroken string of idiots in that line. It seems that only the street Agents, the ones at the bottom of the totem pole, realized how nuts it was, and of course they were ignored and ordered to proceed. It was even reported that one of the RACs in ATF Phoenix emailed protesting Agents, something to the effect that they were working for the wrong agency and should re-employ somewhere else that paid only half as much. No wonder the Agents became whistle-blowers on this monstrosity. Their RAC and SAC were both idiots, and they had the full backing of management, and people were getting killed.)
Katie Pavlich

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

http://townhall.com/...rruption/page/2

ATF Ignored Death Threats, Tried to Frame Whistleblower Agent to Cover Corruption
By Katie Pavlich
10/21/2011
Jay Dobyns is a father, husband and 25-year, highly respected and highly decorated Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Special Agent. He was the first law enforcement agent to ever successfully infiltrate multiple layers of the notoriously dangerous and violent Hells Angels motorcycle gang through "Operation Black Biscuit." He has described the Hells Angels as having their "PhDs in violence," and worked undercover in the gang for two years. Dobyns has dedicated his life to undercover service for ATF and took a bullet through the lung at one point for the agency. Luckily, he survived.

Dobyns has put number of the nations’ most violent criminals behind bars, which naturally comes with threats from those criminals and their buddies in return. After he finished his work bringing down the Hells Angels, things were no different.

Approximately a year after Operation Black Biscuit concluded beginning in 2004 through 2008, Dobyns and ATF became aware of credible and substantial violent threats against him and his family. Those threats included plans to murder him either with a bullet or by injecting him with the AIDS virus, kidnapping and torturing his then 15-year-old daughter and kidnapping his wife in order to videotape a gang rape of her. Dobyns and ATF also learned contracts were solicited between the Hells Angels, the Aryan Brotherhood and the MS-13 gang to carry out these threats.

During Operation Black Biscuit, Dobyns operated as a special field agent under ATF Phoenix Field Office management. At the time of the threats, that management team included Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Phoenix Field Division William Newell, Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Gillett and ATF Deputy Assistant Director William McMahon, who served as Newell’s direct supervisor at the time. All were intimately involved in Operation Fast and Furious. Newell and McMahon have both testified before the House Oversight Committee regarding their roles in the lethal gun trafficking operation that deliberately put over 2,000 high powered weapons into the hands of ruthless Mexican drug cartels and lost south of the border.


These threats were laid out in prison letters and confirmed through FBI and ATF interviews of confidential informants inside the Florence Corrections Facility and the Arlington County Detention Center in Virginia. Also found circulating in the Florence Facility by a prisoner known as the captain of the Aryan Brotherhood named "WHITEY," was an extensive hit list with Jay Dobyns as a top target. Leaders of each gang in the prison had a copy of list and had been given "permission to kill" persons listed according to ATF documents and interviews. Dobyns’ name, in addition to a detailed description of his appearance, also came up in prison yard talk.


"A confidential source stated that it observed WHITEY go into a box within his cell that contained a large number of letters. The confidential source stated that WHITEY pulled out a plain white envelope from within the box, removing a legal sized piece of paper that was full of names. The confidential source explained that the list was broken down into columns, with names, the affiliation of the person who was named and who had approved the “green light” (given permission to kill the person or who ordered the "hit"). The confidential source stated that while looking at the list he recalled several names on the list that were law enforcement officers (approximately 16 names), specifically stating the name "JAY DOBYNS ATF," a report from an interview conducted by ATF Special Agents Jeffery Grabman and Frank D’Alesio with FBI Special Agent Laura Kidwell present shows. "WHITEY knew Dobyns had a daughter, stating that if he were to find the daughter he would torture her."

Grabman, D'Alesio and Kidwell verified these threats were credible and management agents in the Washington D.C. ATF office were practically begging the ATF Phoenix Field Office to the threats seriously and investigate.

Dobyns reported these threats to Special Agent in Charge William Newell, asking for protection for his family. The threats were based in Arizona and Dobyns lived in Arizona at the time. Newell was in charge of investigating and handling all threats made against agents working out of the ATF Phoenix Field Office. The threats were ignored. When Dobyns essentially "blew the whistle" on Newell, pointing out his failures to address violent death threats against a federal agent, he was retaliated against. Newell dismissed the threats and then covered up his blatant dismissal of those threats within the Phoenix Field Office.

Additionally, in response to the ATF/FBI interview, despite all the evidence the death threats were credible, Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Division John Torres, who like Newell has also been promoted into ATF headquarters, informed Dobyns through an email, "The Chief of Operations Security does not deem the emergency action is required as of this date and time."

Later, a DOJ Inspector General report concluded that management within the ATF Phoenix office, despite having the necessary resources, did not adequately address threats made against Dobyns and found "absence of any corrective measures proposed to address the failure to conduct timely and thorough investigations into the death threats made against Dobyns."

In addition, a U.S. Office of Special Counsel report concluded, "I note with concern the absence of any corrective measures proposed to address the failure to conduct timely and thorough investigations into the death threats made against Special Agent Dobyns. ATF does not appear to have held anyone accountable in this regard. Fully addressing the problems and failures identified in this care requires more than amending ATF policies and procedures. It requires that threats against ATF agents be taken seriously and pursued aggressively and that ATF officials at all level cooperate to ensure the timely and comprehensive investigation of threats leveled against its own agents."

On top of ignoring death threats, recently Dobyns' house was set on fire at 3 a.m. with his wife, son and daughter sleeping inside in a confirmed act of arson. It is suspected members of the Hells Angels, or close associates of the gang carried out the arson in retaliation of Dobyns’ undercover work.
When Dobyns reported the incident to both ATF and Newell and asked for an investigation into the case, Newell not only refused to investigate, calling the incident "just scorching," but allowed his subordinates, including Gillett, to attempt to frame Dobyns, accusing him of purposely burning down his own home with his family inside, has named him as a suspect and is investigating him. Newell conspired to destroy and fabricate evidence to "prove" his case. Emails, witness testimony, phone conversations and other documentation show the ATF Phoenix Field Divisions’ intentions, led by Newell, were to frame Dobyns, yet Newell denied under oath any involvement in this activity. His subordinates Gillett and ATF Tucson Group Supervisor over Operation Wide Receiver Charles Higman, also denied any attempts to frame Dobyns under oath, despite evidence showing otherwise.

The retaliatory actions of Newell, and other ATF management agents, were reported to ATF senior management at the highest levels and were ignored.

ATF is notorious for retaliatory action against field agents, but the Dobyns case brings that retaliation behavior to a new level. Credible death threats, backed by evidence from inside the prison system, the investigation of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel and the Office of the Inspector General in the Bush Justice Department, were ignored by ATF management in the Phoenix Field Division Office and at ATF headquarters in Washington D.C. Evidence of the threats was also sent to Congress and the President of the United States.


“Numerous mid-level ATF managers the senior leadership of three ATF field divisions and the Executive Staff of ATF in Washington D.C., along with ATF's Internal Affairs and the Chief Counsel office were all directly involved in, and responsible for the death threats against me. Unfortunately, mine is not an isolated incident. ATF management's pattern of reckless behavior in this area is institutional. It has been historically tolerated and promoted.” Dobyns wrote in a letter to an attorney in the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in late October 2008.

So why does this matter? Newell was the brainchild of Operation Fast and Furious in the ATF Phoenix Field office. Newell is also the agent who was in regular contact with a member of the White House national security team, Kevin O’Reilly, about the lethal program. Newell also said he would conduct Operation Fast and Furious again, despite two Americans and hundreds of innocent Mexicans dead as a result of the program.


Newell used Dobyns as a test run, to see just how much he could get away with in his management position within ATF before getting reprimanded. Considering nobody was held accountable for the mistakes made in handling death threats against Dobyns, Newell knew he had the green light to do whatever he wanted, at the highest levels of corruption. The Dobyns case empowered him. Newell was protected and defended for ignoring violent death threats against a federal agent, he had free reign to do what he wanted. This gave Newell everything he needed to get away with Operation Fast and Furious, which started in Fall 2009.

After allowing 2,000 guns to flow freely into the hands of dangerous Mexican cartels, Newell said under oath that he never let guns walk into Mexico, despite massive amounts of evidence, whistleblower testimony and detailed maps proving otherwise. Keep in mind, ATF Operation Fast and Furious Whistleblowers like John Dodson, Pete Forcelli and Vince Cefalu have all experienced retaliation for their efforts to expose corruption within ATF.

Since purposely ignoring death threats made against Dobyns, deliberately trafficking thousands of weapons into Mexico and repeatedly lying under oath, William Newell has been promoted to a position within ATF in Washington D.C. William McMahon is no different. He too was promoted and now oversees the ATF’s Office of Professional Responsibility and Security Operations or in other words, ATF’s Internal Affairs Division. George Gillett, who orchestrated the frame job against Dobyns was moved out of the ATF Phoenix office following his heavy involvement in Operation Fast and Furious and is now assigned as ATF’s liason to the U.S. Marshall’s Service in Washington D.C.

"ATF wasn’t going to do anything to Bill Newell. They were going to defend and protect him because he was their golden boy," Dobyns tells Townhall. "Why are you protecting this guy? What has he ever done to even deserve your loyalty let alone your protection?"

If ATF had taken steps to hold Newell, Gillett, McMahon and others responsible for their irresponsible actions surrounding the Dobyns case, Fast and Furious wouldn’t have happened, but because ATF openly rewards bad behavior and corruption, Fast and Furious was utterly predictable. ATF executive leadership left these people in place to rule in this agency. They left management in the ATF Phoenix Field Office in place despite documentation showing they were incompetent.

"The agency and the field agents in the agency know those stories and it’s demoralizing across the board because the agents, the people with their boots on the ground are going to say, 'You know what, Jay Dobyns went out there and laid it down for this agency and he’s getting attacked by the agency where a guy like Bill Newell who never left his desk, basically conducted his career with a suit and tie on is being protected.’ Even after all the things that everybody knows he did, he’s still being hidden and defended and protected,'" Dobyns says.

Throughout the years it has become clear that ATF is more interested in protecting and promoting the corrupt practices of the men who have made careers profiting off of corruption, obstruction of justice and lies, like Newell, rather than rewarding field agents taking out dangerous criminals like ATF Special Agent Jay Dobyns, ATF Operation Fast and Furious Whistleblowers John Dodson, Pete Forcelli, Vince Cefalu and others for their bravery and sacrifice to fight violent crime and for exposing corruption within the agency. The bottom line is, ATF as an agency doesn’t care about recommendations or evidence of misconduct, in fact, the agency rewards screw ups on a regular basis. The Dobyns case could be counted as the most reckless case of retaliation in ATF history, yet nobody has been held accountable for it.

"The identical techniques, tactics, practices and personnel that were used on me were repeated in Fast and Furious. You’ve got a flawed response plan that is not well thought out, both to the gun trafficking in Fast and Furious to the threats against me. You’ve got the same people who are at the tip of the spear in developing the plan to send thousands of weapons to Mexico and ignoring death threats and not realizing when it is failing. Then you’ve got the point when they get called out and caught in their bad acts both in Fast and Furious and my threat response. Then you go into the immediate denial of ‘no we didn’t do that.’ Then, when it starts to be proved, you go into the attack on the person that exposed it, that blew the whistle. They attacked me just like they attacked John Dodson and Pete Forcelli and those guys. Then you go into the cover-up where they are denying the evidence and hiding the evidence of what they did wrong and then you go into the lies under oath that they’re denying and raising their right hand, swearing to tell the truth and willingly and intentionally not telling the truth," Dobyns says.
(FHW - To be objective, it is a stretch to say that Fast and Furious has a connection to what was being done to Jay Dobyns. Persecution of Agents by management is almost an ATF tradition, but doing something so politically and strategically stupid as Fast and Furious is a whole new ball game. An ATF management that is quite timid to powers they cannot control does not risk itself like this. They do what they want to Agents under their control, but they do not challenge their own bosses.
This article names William Newell, the ATF Special Agent in Charge in Phoenix at the time as the originator of Fast and Furious. And even says that Newell says that if he had it to do over again, he would. Obviously, a slow learner. If Fast and Furious did originate in ATF Phoenix with Newell, and then passed muster all the way up the line of review, including DOJ, there had to be an unbroken string of idiots in that line. It seems that only the street Agents, the ones at the bottom of the totem pole, realized how nuts it was, and of course they were ignored and ordered to proceed. It was even reported that one of the RACs in ATF Phoenix emailed protesting Agents, something to the effect that they were working for the wrong agency and should re-employ somewhere else that paid only half as much. No wonder the Agents became whistle-blowers on this monstrosity. Their RAC and SAC were both idiots, and they had the full backing of management, and people were getting killed.)
Katie Pavlich

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

Don't listen to me, and don't listen to the Agents and Inspectors who are confronting the issues in ATF. BUT you better listen to Congress and you may want to listen to a 6 term U.S. Congressman who with Senator Dennis Diconcini SAVED this Bureau after our last bunch of executive staff thought they TOO were above the law. Many of you weren't around then, but for the efforts of Congressman Jim Lightfoot, you would NOT be an ATF Agent today. He chaired the sub-committee for our appropriations. The man is a died in the wool ATF LOVER. This is what he has to say today. Yes Today. Mr. Brandon, you were here. Mr. Jones you were not, but it is in the Congressional record. BETTER LISTEN
READ BELOW
It’s a Culture Thing
Author
- Jim Ross Lightfoot Thursday, October 20, 2011

As the US House Oversight Committee continues its investigation into the disastrous “Fast and Furious” operation authorized under the umbrella of the Department of Justice (DOJ) most rank and file Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents are hoping that major steps will be taken to root out the incompetent supervisors that saw fit to pursue such a misguided and illegal operation.

Following a House Oversight Committee hearing that exposed the gross incompetence of Phoenix ATF Supervisor William Newell, his assistant George Gillett, Special Agents David Voth and Deputy Assistant Director William McMahon were all laterally transferred from operational positions and moved into administrative roles at ATF headquarters in Washington, DC. Those familiar with the interworking of ATF believe this was a move to protect the architects of Fast and Furious from losing their jobs and pensions.

This points out a huge difference between the government and the private sector. A similar situation in the private sector would have resulted in those involved being immediately fired. Additionally, the seriousness of the illegal activities of Fast and Furious would have led to a series of arrests and indictments. That didn’t happen at ATF.
ATF is hostage to an ingrained culture that has brought the agency nearly to its knees

ATF is hostage to an ingrained culture that has brought the agency nearly to its knees in the past and will do it again and again if it is not changed. Only Congress can make the changes that are needed and, to date, no one has stepped up to the plate to do the heavy lifting.

The problems plaguing ATF are not uncommon in Federal Agencies, however, ATF is in a rather unique position that tends to draw negative attention other agencies do not receive. The agency’s primary mission is the enforcement of the Nation’s firearm laws. These laws are unpopular and very controversial.

People unhappy with the gun laws tend to focus their anger on ATF. In reality, this is killing the messenger, as the focus should be on the people that make the laws, the Congress. Regardless, many within ATF management have adopted a hunker-down, cover-my-rear attitude. Unfortunately, that type of thinking permeates the management operation of the agency.

There is a distinct, and wide, culture difference between the field agents and their supervisors and headquarters ATF management.

Field agents are mission driven and feel a strong responsibility to protect people from those that use guns for unlawful purposes. They are viewed by local law enforcement as the best Federal agency to cooperate with. The people ATF agents deal with on a day-to-day basis are the worst of the violent criminal element.

In the past, under a strong, mission oriented Director the headquarters operation has demonstrated that it can function in a very positive manner.

However, without that oversight it has become an animal house of self-preservation and personal promotion. Management personnel habitually make false representations to the Congress. Money appropriated by the Congress for specific programs is routinely used for purposes that better suit the wishes and desires of HQ personnel rather than their intended purposes.

When asked by the Congress why a certain program is not meeting expectations the usual line is to blame it on the vendors that supply the agency. Meanwhile, the vendors are consistently told that there is just not enough funding available to meet the requirements of the vendor’s contract.

The legal department is famous for its ability to fabricate cases against agents and retaliate on those that “don’t toe the line.”
Forensic audit of the agency and deep, painstaking Congressional investigation into all headquarters operations and personnel is needed

At first blush it might appear that a strong, mission oriented Director would solve the problem. It would help; there has not been a permanent Director at ATF in six years.

However, a forensic audit of the agency and deep, painstaking Congressional investigation into all headquarters operations and personnel is needed. Management practices and established procedures within headquarters should be examined and replaced if needed. Those currently in management positions that are found in violation of good practices should be removed.

Accountability must be restored.

Congress has the responsibility to exercise more and rigid oversight over the agency. The ball is in their court.
If you have an interest in reading more regarding ATF go here. http://canadafreepre...p/article/41507

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

The hits just keep on coming. John Torres, probably one of the singularly most abusive, narcissistic managers in the history of the Bureau IS MOVING ON. His resume' includes but is not limited to, a FORMAL finding of discrimination as SAC of San Francisco, as posted by ADFO Billy Hoover,(read the ATF disciplinary Matrix)first offense requires termination. He was laterally transferred to L.A. instead. He has compromised L.E. Sensitive information to the public through the media related to the Polygraph info and the "Omar" king of undercover electronic debacle causing us to recall thousands of dollars of equipment. Attempted to tank Dobyns as incompetent because he didn't want to have to deal with the threats against Jay. He was accused of extorting a production company to buy his book rights. So what does Mr. Jones reset consist of? MAKING HIM A DAD? People you CANT make this up. I refuse to believe DD Brandon can be none too happy about this. And a promotion for such egregious behavior as a SAC? May NOT be DD Brandons doings, because word is, Chief counsel is still running the Bureau and tanking Brandons intended mandates. Until Mr. Jones and Mr. Brandon remind every Attorney in this place THEY run this Bureau Not the Attorneys, there is only one course these abuses cant take. After all, what are the attorneys entire purpose in this Bureau, TO LITIGATE. NOT MUCH JOB SECURITY IN FOLLOWING THE LAW AND LETTING CORRUPT MANAGERS TAKE THEIR MEDICINE IS THERE NOW.

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

Whatever Wlfred L. Ford did or didn't do as an agent seems to be a mystery to most. That's NOT good when trying to establish credibility with the field and the only ones who know of your big cases is you. Secondly, he has been so far removed from the field for so long, I'm not certain there is a more disengaged leader in the Bureau. Couple that with his COUNTLESS lapses of personal and professional integrity and lack of candor when signing responses to Congressional inquiries, is he really the BEST choice to be our top field commander? Add that to the fact that he was THE highest ranking member of our intelligence directorate during the largest "criminal intelligence gathering investigation" in the Bureaus history and he didn't know about it, and failed to stop it immediately. Either by act or omission, it wreaks of incompetence. He does NOT and historically HAS NOT ever had but a few select Agents back. He is an abusive showboat and EVERYBODY from Inspector to Agent to clerical staff knows it. That being said, he still answers to Deputy Director Brandon, and his behavior will not be tolerated.We have to have faith that these changes are the BEGINNING, of change, and not the end. This wasn't broken in 30 days, and its going to take longer than 30 days to fix it. Remember, Mr. Jones is not ATF, so to expect him to get it immediately might be a little much. Obviously he has yet to reach out to the field, and he clearly is NOT listening to the consistent issues raised here and elsewhere, but perhaps he will.

The only back W. Larry ever looked out for was his own. Has anyone ever heard of his accomplishments as an agent from anyone but him? According to W. Larry he did it all as an agent but funny that no one else seems to know anything about anything he reportedly did.

Now, as the ADFO is saying that he is going to give blind support to any manager accused of wrongdoing and if your an agent making the report he doesn't want to hear it. Here we go again. The open door policy they love to promote which is anythign but an open door. Jones should have just left Hoover in place if this is what we get.

Nothing like holding your first meeting W. Larry and making your first public statement as the top dog for our enforcement programs and making sure everyone knows that you have the agents back as long as agents back is not being attacked by a supervisor. In that case you have the supervisors back regardless of the circumstances because the supervisors "credibility" is way more important than the truth or fair treatment. The "new day" at ATF lasted about a week and now we are back to the same old bullshit.

Plus, anyone who makes his right hand man Scott Thomason is seriously lacking in judgement and an ability to assess character. I guess being able to be excited about some changes for a week was better than not at all.

[Retired and loving it]

From Mr. Ford during a town hall meeting this week: absolutely mgmt has your back. I've been where you're at ... I've worked the streets ... You can call me directly; don't let the title stop you from calling me ... Hold me accountable. About 15 minutes later during the same meeting from Mr. Ford: don't expect me to support you if a member of management is involved as I have to support him and his credibility. REALLY! What's changed? What about the credibility of us field agents and IOIs? And Mr. Jones doesn't like us airing the agency's dirty laundry on a public website, but where else do we have to go? While I know this new regime has only been in place a week I'm starting to wonder where we are headed.

As I said a week or so ago before he was selected, I thought that he would be a piss-poor choice as the AD,FO. It certainly did not take him very long to prove me to be a prophet and right on target.

This guy is a real loser when he tells people "don't complain to me about management". Management has been and, with him at least, continues to be THE problem. Also, don't the Field managers work for him and isn't he accountable for them? Under his rationale, he'd support that liar-to-Congress Newell because he has "to support him and his credibility". And no line person better tell Ford that Matt Horace went to a titty bar in his GOV -- after all, he'd have to support Horace and his "credibilty". Now ain't that a laugh.

Ford just doesn't get it at all. What a pick, Mr Jones!!!!.

[Enufsenuf]

From Mr. Ford during a town hall meeting this week: absolutely mgmt has your back. I've been where you're at ... I've worked the streets ... You can call me directly; don't let the title stop you from calling me ... Hold me accountable. About 15 minutes later during the same meeting from Mr. Ford: don't expect me to support you if a member of management is involved as I have to support him and his credibility. REALLY! What's changed? What about the credibility of us field agents and IOIs? And Mr. Jones doesn't like us airing the agency's dirty laundry on a public website, but where else do we have to go? While I know this new regime has only been in place a week I'm starting to wonder where we are headed.

[Doc Holiday]

Talk about rampant Government abuse. The NRC must have laid hands on the ATF Chief Counsels Play book. If this scenario applies to your particular dispute, READ the article. The OSC will not tolerate Idling and violation of due process or abuse of authority by managers. READ IT!!!!!! I cut and pasted a couple excerpts, AND HIGHLIGHTED RELEVANT PARTS, that may be relevant.
http://www.washingto...=emailtoafriend

After he broke the rules on driving government vehicles, he appealed a suspension, and his bosses tried to sack him. He fought back — and won.
That was more than four years ago. For three of them, Patrick has been paid to sit at home or sit at a desk doing nothing.
Patrick’s story is one of dizzying accusations, counteraccusations, memos and appeals — of the “absurdities encountered by Alice during her mad tumble down the rabbit hole,” as the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates federal personnel decisions, put it.
Patrick might have been wrong, but his bosses’ conduct was worse, the special counsel said in a ruling in August that concluded Energy officials violated Patrick’s rights to due process.
On his day in administrative court, Patrick’s supervisors said he had trouble dealing with stress, was arrogant and should not keep his job. But the hearing officer found “insufficient evidence” to support those claims and said he should be reinstated.
“I sat at home in Ohio,” Patrick said. “My neighbors said, ‘Why are you still here?’ I said, ‘It’s taxpayers’ money paying me to be here.’ ”
He would have been taken off the payroll again, but he brought the case to the special counsel’s office. Officials there asked for (and got) a stay in the case while they investigated.
In August, Associate Special Counsel William E. Reukauf concluded that Patrick’s “lengthy indefinite suspensions” were a violation of federal personnel rules.
Reukauf wrote, “Rarely would an employee have the stamina or perseverance . . . to endure 13 months without pay, prevail on the merits and then endure again a potentially endless cycle of recertification, denial and indefinite suspension.”

[GoodWorker]

Mr. Jones,

It would be great if you got an outside agency to review the cases presented to IA and EEO over the last 10 years to see what was legitimately investigated and those that were illegitimately "investigated." You will be shocked by what you find and you could gain a lot of respect from the field for doing so. Let the cards fall where they may. Mr. Melson failed to do his job.

Why does the media, including Ms. Attkisson at CBS, and the people at Fox News "get it", but Acting ATF Director B. Todd Jones doesn't? Simply moving the same people around with no accountability or consequences will not get the support of the field. Ask Mr. Domenech, Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Melson. ATF Agents want one thing, and that's to catch bad-guys and engage bullies. Unfortunately, you have made no changes to Chief Counsel’s Office, who represent the largest contingent of bullies in the agency. So much of the field personnel’s’ time is spent engaging these bullies.

You got it 50% right, but it’s the other 50% that has people shaking their heads. Look at the Dobyns, Badigian, Jaquez, Jessen, Kelly, Andrade and Tokos cases. These are but a few that have created the “us vs. them” mentality. Tom Brandon is a great leader, but you have given him little to work with. McMahon, who put on one of the most pathetically Congressional testimony performances ever, is still the #2 in Internal Affairs, and the direct conduit to the OIG who is investigating him? Seriously??? Best of luck, but the word is, you were cautioned about your selections and did them anyway. Godspeed, Mr. Acting Director.

"Major Shakeup at ATF.” Main Justice.com declares. “Embattled ATF shakes up staff,” Politico agrees. “ATF officials demoted over Fast and Furious.” The Columbus Dispatch reports. “New ATF Head: ‘We’ve Got to Hit Reset’ on Investigative Moves in Wake of Fast and Furious,” Fox News chimes in.

They’re all referring to an October 5 ATF news release:

“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Director B. Todd Jones today announced key staff changes aimed at refocusing the bureau’s direction on its core mission.”

So why did a key source tell a correspondent that the announcement “…made him “sick to [his] stomach”?

The key to understanding why veteran agents believe this will not address agency corruption can be found at CleanUpATF.org, the website established to address abuses that management would not. There was a hopeful post made two days before the Jones presser, reminding forum participants to give ATF’s anticipated new leadership a chance, and it was written by someone familiar to regular “Gun Rights Examiner readers”, Jay Dobyns. But with the hope came a concern and a warning:

“If I could speak to Acting Director Jones - which I can’t and which is part of the reason why www.CleanUpATF.org exists, employees have had no voice – I would ask him to take a hard look at the evil culture of ATF’s Chief Counsel’s Office and Internal Affairs (OPRSO). I will not speak to this from my personal perspective because I don’t want to give myself a high blood pressure brain hemorrhage today but, I will speak to it from a perspective of what I absolutely know to be true.”

The Chief Counsel’s Office is shockingly corrupt. Not every ATF attorney in that office is unethical, but some of the most significant ones most definitely are. They do not respect complaints from field employees. That statement is supported by many years of historical, institutional and a well-documented pattern of viciously attacking any sub GS-14 who files a complaint. The field is always wrong and management is always right in “our” attorneys’ minds.

Regardless of the actual facts, circumstances or track records of the persons involved, ATF Attorneys blindly defend and protect executives and managers. IA quickly and ruthlessly investigates agents based on the most trivial rumors, yet just as quickly turns when ATF executives commit serious felonies. IA is infamous for determining the conclusion of an investigation before it starts, and then building a case to fit the “crime”. How can there be trust when those two entities operate that way? Corruption exists at ATF because those who see it are afraid to report it, knowing that their allegations will be denied, IA will be after them for some trumped-up nonsense, and the attorneys will prosecute them for anything, whether real or fabricated.

If my statements are disputed, I am fully prepared to cite cases, examples, names and dates.

Chief Counsel’s role has been documented numerous times in this column—from advising then-AD Melson on what rules could be used to retaliate against whistleblowers, to specifically advising management that word of whistleblowers seeking protection was getting out in the “Gun Rights Examiner”.

Of note, organizationally, that office is co-equal with the Director. Jones is not their boss.

Also noteworthy is this headline from The Washington Post, a paper that has covered and shilled for the administration throughout the unfolding “Gunwalker” story, as presented by their award-winning plagiarist, Sari Horwitz: “`Calm down’ about Fast and Furious gun sting, ATF acting director says.”

“Calm down”...? We can’t, Mr. Jones. People have died. Justice has lied. And you give us kabuki.

Also see:

• CleanUpATF speculates on imminent management shakeup.
• Dave Workman: Shuffleboard at ATF while admin flacks scream ‘be reasonable’
• Mike Vanderboegh: The act of a "political stooge" in playing a game of musical chairs with no odd man out. ATF's non-shake-up shake-up.
• “A Journalist’s Guide to ‘Project Gunwalker' Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five and Part Six”, for a complete list with links of independent investigative reporting and commentary done to date by Sipsey Street Irregulars and Gun Rights Examiner.

Note to newcomers to this story: “Project Gunrunner” is the name ATF assigned to its Southwest Border Initiative to interdict gun smuggling to Mexico. “Project Gunwalker” is the name I assigned to the scandal after allegations by agents that monitored guns were allowed to fall into criminal hands on both sides of the border through a surveillance process termed “walking” surfaced.

[Jay Dobyns]

From Senator Charles Grassley's webpage regarding ATF's executive reorganization:

“The reassignments are positive, especially in the case of Tom Brandon who I hope can help lead this agency out of its troubles. But, I caution that rearranging the chairs on the deck, won’t make Fast and Furious go away. I also question the timing of this announcement. There is a lot of effort at the Justice Department to spin the fact that the Attorney General was less than candid before the House Judiciary Committee, and what better way to make that go away than a bureaucratic shuffle. There are a lot of questions that remain to be answered and actions that need to be explained.”

Senator Grassley totally gets it. Tom Brandon is the single best thing that could happen to ATF. He is not pro-gun or anti-gun. He is anti-violence and moreso, anti-gun-violence. He proved himself as an agent, and before my eyes on several occasions in the 90's, to be the consumate investigator. He knows what it is like to be a street agent and unlike many of his predassors, hasn't forgotten the field or devalued their insights. He is an ATF Agent through and through and has always done his job with a single-mindedness of handling America's business within the constrains of his assignments with ATF, using ATF's mission, legal jurisdiction, proper techniques and tactics as his guide. Brandon's leadership is indisputable. His willingness to serve is without question. His understanding of ATF, coupled with a love for the Bureau's employees is top shelf.

Tom Brandon is the type of boss who agents will run through a block wall for. Why? Because Brandon has run through the walls himself and knows what its like. He won't ask anyone to do anything that he hasn't done, or isn't willing to do, himself. Wow! Revolutionary concept at ATF.

Do not be afraid or shy to expect great things from Tom Brandon because he expects great things from himself. That is the kind of leader he is. Great choice Mr. Jones! You have hired on a partner that will lead with courage, compassion and brutal honesty, something that has been entirely lost on the former executives in ATF headquarters. The Agents of ATF have been held underwater for so long we're blue. Tom Brandon gives us all a big gulp of fresh air into our lungs!

[Patriot]

I truely hope Tom Brandon has strong shoulders as he will have to carry the burden of those below him. By all accounts he is the guy to do it. I just hope that at some point in the very near future he is able to assemble a team that he can rely on and trust. Mr. Jones should give Tom the authority to do this and do it quickly. I have said it here before, we are such a small agency that the only way we know how to deal with the inept leaders is to do the shuffle. It is unfortunate that we have no place to park them so that they can no longer adversely effect us. We all can hope some of these moves will be short term. When are we going to see real consequences for bad leadership decisons. These guys have not lost anything, in fact for some of them this is a raise, same money, less responsibility, but then they never showed any responsibility to anyone but themselves to begin with. Good luck Tom.

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

Why does the media, including Ms. Attkisson at CBS, and the people at Fox News "get it", but Acting ATF Director B. Todd Jones doesn't? Simply moving the same people around with no accountability or consequences will not get the support of the field. Ask Mr. Domenech, Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Melson. ATF Agents want one thing, and that's to catch bad-guys and engage bullies. Unfortunately, you have made no changes to Chief Counsel’s Office, who represent the largest contingent of bullies in the agency. So much of the field personnel’s’ time is spent engaging these bullies.

You got it 50% right, but it’s the other 50% that has people shaking their heads. Look at the Dobyns, Badigian, Jaquez, Jessen, Kelly, Andrade and Tokos cases. These are but a few that have created the “us vs. them” mentality. Tom Brandon is a great leader, but you have given him little to work with. McMahon, who put on one of the most pathetically Congressional testimony performances ever, is still the #2 in Internal Affairs, and the direct conduit to the OIG who is investigating him? Seriously??? Best of luck, but the word is, you were cautioned about your selections and did them anyway. Godspeed, Mr. Acting Director.

"Major Shakeup at ATF.” Main Justice.com declares. “Embattled ATF shakes up staff,” Politico agrees. “ATF officials demoted over Fast and Furious.” The Columbus Dispatch reports. “New ATF Head: ‘We’ve Got to Hit Reset’ on Investigative Moves in Wake of Fast and Furious,” Fox News chimes in.

They’re all referring to an October 5 ATF news release:

“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Director B. Todd Jones today announced key staff changes aimed at refocusing the bureau’s direction on its core mission.”

So why did a key source tell a correspondent that the announcement “…made him “sick to [his] stomach”?

The key to understanding why veteran agents believe this will not address agency corruption can be found at CleanUpATF.org, the website established to address abuses that management would not. There was a hopeful post made two days before the Jones presser, reminding forum participants to give ATF’s anticipated new leadership a chance, and it was written by someone familiar to regular “Gun Rights Examiner readers”, Jay Dobyns. But with the hope came a concern and a warning:

“If I could speak to Acting Director Jones - which I can’t and which is part of the reason why www.CleanUpATF.org exists, employees have had no voice – I would ask him to take a hard look at the evil culture of ATF’s Chief Counsel’s Office and Internal Affairs (OPRSO). I will not speak to this from my personal perspective because I don’t want to give myself a high blood pressure brain hemorrhage today but, I will speak to it from a perspective of what I absolutely know to be true.”

The Chief Counsel’s Office is shockingly corrupt. Not every ATF attorney in that office is unethical, but some of the most significant ones most definitely are. They do not respect complaints from field employees. That statement is supported by many years of historical, institutional and a well-documented pattern of viciously attacking any sub GS-14 who files a complaint. The field is always wrong and management is always right in “our” attorneys’ minds.

Regardless of the actual facts, circumstances or track records of the persons involved, ATF Attorneys blindly defend and protect executives and managers. IA quickly and ruthlessly investigates agents based on the most trivial rumors, yet just as quickly turns when ATF executives commit serious felonies. IA is infamous for determining the conclusion of an investigation before it starts, and then building a case to fit the “crime”. How can there be trust when those two entities operate that way? Corruption exists at ATF because those who see it are afraid to report it, knowing that their allegations will be denied, IA will be after them for some trumped-up nonsense, and the attorneys will prosecute them for anything, whether real or fabricated.

If my statements are disputed, I am fully prepared to cite cases, examples, names and dates.

Chief Counsel’s role has been documented numerous times in this column—from advising then-AD Melson on what rules could be used to retaliate against whistleblowers, to specifically advising management that word of whistleblowers seeking protection was getting out in the “Gun Rights Examiner”.

Of note, organizationally, that office is co-equal with the Director. Jones is not their boss.

Also noteworthy is this headline from The Washington Post, a paper that has covered and shilled for the administration throughout the unfolding “Gunwalker” story, as presented by their award-winning plagiarist, Sari Horwitz: “`Calm down’ about Fast and Furious gun sting, ATF acting director says.”

“Calm down”...? We can’t, Mr. Jones. People have died. Justice has lied. And you give us kabuki.

Also see:

• CleanUpATF speculates on imminent management shakeup.
• Dave Workman: Shuffleboard at ATF while admin flacks scream ‘be reasonable’
• Mike Vanderboegh: The act of a "political stooge" in playing a game of musical chairs with no odd man out. ATF's non-shake-up shake-up.
• “A Journalist’s Guide to ‘Project Gunwalker' Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five and Part Six”, for a complete list with links of independent investigative reporting and commentary done to date by Sipsey Street Irregulars and Gun Rights Examiner.

Note to newcomers to this story: “Project Gunrunner” is the name ATF assigned to its Southwest Border Initiative to interdict gun smuggling to Mexico. “Project Gunwalker” is the name I assigned to the scandal after allegations by agents that monitored guns were allowed to fall into criminal hands on both sides of the border through a surveillance process termed “walking” surfaced.

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

This was forwarded to me from a friend who is dialed in to Federal law enforcement. It makes me ask, how come he gets it but our own people don't. STOP using ATF as a pawn.

Yes, following ATF closely...I have some insights your friends may not...We
should talk about this acting director Jones.....He has done some unbelievable
and totally disastrous things already...The agency is on a death watch. since
the administration can't get Travers confirmed, they have told him NOT to
withdraw his nomination because it would be embarrassing to the white house...
According to some there, they want to agency to just drift so that they can
cannibalize it should Obama be re-elected. The FBI NOW wants firearms after all
these years of saying they don't....Thank God the NRA will fight that...I think
the effective, not to mention the morale, of ATF is so low it can't go
lower....They deserve better.

Except for Brandon, this is really a huge dissapointment. Alas, not unexpected but still a dissapointment.

Like has been said, no one gets hurt, no one suffers for the pain (and deaths) they caused to others -- it's disgusting. God, I glad that I am no longer with the organization as it is really messed up and very, very ill in character in its management.

Not much of a shakeup, Mr. Jones. I'll call you Director Jones when you earn the title!

[Retired and loving it]

Except for Brandon, this is really a huge dissapointment. Alas, not unexpected but still a dissapointment.

Like has been said, no one gets hurt, no one suffers for the pain (and deaths) they caused to others -- it's disgusting. God, I glad that I am no longer with the organization as it is really messed up and very, very ill in character in its management.

Not much of a shakeup, Mr. Jones. I'll call you Director Jones when you earn the title!

[ISpy]

While i don't neccessarily agree with all of the selections the Acting Director made, I am going to give them a chance to prove themselves worthy of the trust and positions they were given. I honestly believe that if they don't perform at at least a 100 percent level they will find the Acting Director is giving them a new position - which is one they won't like.

Really? A new position they won't like. PLEASE. All they keep doing is swapping seats. Nothing happens to any of them. They all just trade offices. Same pay, still managing people (and I use that term very loosely).

We just keep seeing the same names over and over again in the management cesspool. I had hoped that Jones would reach down through the muck and pull up some untainted folks from below the scum level in the pond but I don't see it happening. Chait gets to stay in his house. Hoover gets what he has wanted. Promotions of folks we have all heard the horror stories on or had first hand dealings with.

The only HOPEFULLY saving grace is Brandon. Sure would be nice to see some new faces with some integrity show up on the 5th floor.

[ProConfesso]

http://www.ticklethe...-coming-at-atf/

[Mister Ed]

Cleaning House - Here's the scoop:

http://online.wsj.co...005-715247.html

The article lists all of the changes announced today.

[SA FOG]

While i don't neccessarily agree with all of the selections the Acting Director made, I am going to give them a chance to prove themselves worthy of the trust and positions they were given. I honestly believe that if they don't perform at at least a 100 percent level they will find the Acting Director is giving them a new position - which is one they won't like.

[Zorro]

Vince, what could they possibly do to Sheryl Attkinson? And what would be their "official" reason for investigating her? I understand what would be their "unofficial" reason. Their unofficial reason is because she kicked their asses! Man, if there's one person that deserves our support, it's her!! She is very good at what she does and very respected. It would be a very stupid move to go after her! Surely ATF and DOJ aren't that stupid! And sorry for calling you Surely! Nobody asked, but my recommendation is for ATF and DOJ to shut the hell up and cooperate with Congress and hopefully a Special Investigator and not blame the reporter who exposed them. Everyone loves that woman, and if they tried to mess with her, it would be like Sheriff Buford T. Justice saying " You gonna be in a heep of trouble boy"

OP - check out this interview... I think this is what SA Cefalu is referring to:

http://cleanupatf.or...ndpost__p__3690

Attkisson is not fulfilling her role as a useful idiot and the ruling class is letting her know about it.

[Rogue]

Many of you have called me complaining about the rumor that Larry Ford will be ADFO. Ain't happenin. Mr. Jones has done his homework. His stated goal is to give a shot in the arm of morale. He has to know that W. Call me Larry Ford was run out of PGA because no one on the hill would talk to him and his credibility is shot in Congress. Factor in his multiple signed lies to Congressional inquiries, and the fact that he was THE Assistant Director of Intel at the MOST critical stages of Fast and Furious and didn't utter a peep. There is NO way hes gonna be ADFO. In fact, word is that senior executives have already advised Mr. Jones that this was a bad selection. Everybody is quick to think just because he's an African American from Chicago, he's a shoe in. Leave the politics to the politicians. At face value, Mr. Jones is tryin to figure this out.

Damm I wish you had been right about this. This selection is a very bad sign.

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

They do not even realize that it is their response to Congressional inquiry and their conduct that has forced a call for a Special Prosecutor. Cryin shame. But that appears to be the only way to get the truth. The OIG is not pressing it. And Congress is stonewalling. Its time for transparency. I read where DOJ and the White house are bearing down on Sheryl Attkinson at CBS. Welcome to our world. Don't own the problem, don't man up and take responsibility and hold your peers responsible. JUST ATTACK THE ONE WHO EXPOSED IT.

[Retired and loving it]

SilentObserver, on 04 October 2011 - 08:56 AM, said:

There has been talk that Larry Ford could be promoted in the Bureau...I would like to know what people think of this possible move!

W.Larry Ford: Current position: Assistant Director - Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information at Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

I think anyone who has watched his "performance" in recent years would agree that he would be a really piss-poor choice. The executive staff members who were in place during F&F need to be fired -- not promoted. That includes those who may not have been directly giving orders but knew what was going on while sitting back and staying quiet -- including those in Chief Counsel's office. The funny farm at 99 NY Avenue needs a thorough enema!

[limestonenerd]

Excellent posting Jay Dobyns. How many disputes that were started with accurate allegations but fought only for the purpose of fighting (see the resume of Eleaner Loos for countless examples) could have been settled with an appology and and handshake but because of chief counsels office they cost ATF thousands of dollars? The examples of ATF internal affairs doing a half hearted job to find the truth are in the hundreds.

[ProConfesso]

paragraphs 1-4 - ditto
paragraph 5 - well said
last sentence - yes, I've been wondering for 25 years now when ATF will learn that particular lesson.

BRAVO! Jay. An immediate external audit of CCO and IA, including a review of their actions past & present.

[Zorro]

Mr. Jones,

You have a unique opportunity that most people never see: The chance to become a legend - at least to a couple thousand people plus an unknown number of the beleaugered taxpaying public who watch the fruits of their labors get wasted year after year to increasing degrees. The question on everyone's mind is are you a leader or just another place holder in a line of place holders?

Amazingly (and sadly) enough, all you have to do is demand honesty and accountability. The proverbial rumor mill is abuzz right now with everything from "fresh start with a clean slate" to "business as usual". PLEASE - the employees of this agency are told every few months of a "big shake up". The reality is the same crew switches desks and NOTHING changes.

There is no shuffle left to be made that will right the ship. Here's hoping that you will dare to be different.

[Jay Dobyns]

Something to keep in mind is that regardless of who gets moved to where in the management realignment, it is impossible for anyone to be perfect. The new people will make some mistakes because we all do. The owning of mistakes and the effort to self-correct them is what has been missing. If George Washington, Abe Lincoln, General Schwarzkopf or Neil Armstrong was the boss they would make mistakes. True leaders hold themselves accountable, ours haven’t. Then they set out to fix their mistakes and try not to repeat them, ours haven’t.

If I could speak to Acting Director Jones - which I can’t and which is part of the reason why www.cleanupatf.org exists, employees have had no voice – I would ask him to take a hard look at the evil culture of ATF’s Chief Counsel’s Office and Internal Affairs (OPRSO). I will not speak to this from my personal perspective because I don’t want to give myself a high blood pressure brain hemorrhage today but, I will speak to it from a perspective of what I absolutely know to be true.

Chief Counsels Office is corrupt. Not every ATF attorney in that office is unethical but, some of the very significant ones – most definitely. They do not respect the complaints of field employees. That statement is supported by years and years of historical, institutional and a well documented pattern and practice of challenging and attacking anyone sub-14 who files a complaint. The field is ALWAYS wrong and management is ALWAYS right in “our” attorney’s minds. Regardless of fact, circumstance or the track records of the persons involved ATF Attorneys blindly defend and protect the executives and managers. IA quickly investigates agents for rumors and just as quickly turns their back on executives for felonies. IA is well known to determine the conclusion of an investigation before it starts and then build a case to fit the “crime”. How can there be trust when those two entities operate that way? Corruption exists at ATF because those who see it are afraid to report it knowing that their allegations will be denied, IA will be after them for something, and the attorneys will prosecute them for anything. If my statements are disputed I am fully prepared to cite cases, examples, names and dates.

Until the playing field is level and everyone is heard, treated, investigated, and disciplined in the same way there will always be dissention, mistrust and a gap in communication that is self-defeating to an agency trying to regain its footing. Thanks in part to cleanupatf, the days of field employees being treated by ATF management with the bullying disregard for our dignity are gone. No more. Over.

Why would I post this statement in the midst of my dispute? Why not? What are they going to do to me? Fire me? They tried that. Didn’t work. Discipline me? They’ve done that. Wreck my reputation? Already done. Break me financially? Close but I’m hanging on (my kids love Pop Tarts and tap water for dinner [jk]). Let people try to kill me? They did but I’m still here and that is not a joke. Frame me for a crime? Tried and failed. Prosecute me? In the middle of that one. Wear me out? Ain’t happenin’. Not yesterday, not today, not tomorrow.

When someone has absolutely nothing to lose, there is absolutely nothing to lose.

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

I just saw Audry Stuccos article about reducing the ranks in ATF and the possible implications. She is exactly correct and it will definitely hinder our mission with less Agent and Inspectors. The part she left out is that it has never been considered that maybe our TOP HEAVY SES, (Senior Executive Schedule) bosses huge payroll and benefit packages could be cut drastically and we wouldn't have to reduce our field work force. But we wouldn't want to do that, now would we? All of our SACs (Special Agents in Charge are SES employees. Most are overseeing LESS Agents and Inspectors than they were 20 years ago. Many are overseeing less offices and resources than the were 20 years ago. So then WHY are they making so much more than 20 years ago.They now have 2 ASACs when one has historically been able to do the job. Two operations Officers. Seriously people, Im a CJ major, but I passed third grade math. CUT the flagrant self promotion of SO many bosses and put these guys back on the street where they belong.

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

Change is coming. THAT IS EXACTLY what we have been asking for. Let the changes happen. Watch them closely. They will bear out as positive or negative. Rumors are running crazy. Take a deep breath and lets see where they are going to take our Bureau. Word is very positive about the interactions with Mr. Jones. Many of you have called me complaining about the rumor that Larry Ford will be ADFO. Ain't happenin. Mr. Jones has done his homework. His stated goal is to give a shot in the arm of morale. He has to know that W. Call me Larry Ford was run out of PGA because no one on the hill would talk to him and his credibility is shot in Congress. Factor in his multiple signed lies to Congressional inquiries, and the fact that he was THE Assistant Director of Intel at the MOST critical stages of Fast and Furious and didn't utter a peep. There is NO way hes gonna be ADFO. In fact, word is that senior executives have already advised Mr. Jones that this was a bad selection. Everybody is quick to think just because he's an African American from Chicago, he's a shoe in. Leave the politics to the politicians. At face value, Mr. Jones is tryin to figure this out.

[avatar]

The following was posted today by attorney David T. Hardy on his blog at http://armsandthelaw.com/:

Reports of plans for abolition of BATF

Posted by David Hardy · 1 October 2011 03:28 PM

Report on Townhall.com. Meanwhile, CleanUpATF.org is reporting that the new acting director plans major management shakeups.

The second would be splendid. The first .... "We've decided that Operation Fast and Furious was a murderous disaster that only a lunatic could have created. So we've promoted those who created and pushed it, and now we'll lay off all the agents who weren't involved." Even by DC's rather loose standards of sanity, that's nuts.


Hat tip to alert reader Jim D. ...

NOTE: Here's the article (at http://townhall.com/...n_of_atf/page/2) that attorney Hardy cites:

Bombshell: DOJ Considering Elimination of ATF

Katie Pavlich

News Editor, Townhall

Sep 30, 2011

Multiple sources, including sources from ATF, DOJ and Congressional offices have said there is a white paper circulating within the Department of Justice, outlining the essential elimination of ATF. According to sources, the paper outlines the firing of at least 450 ATF agents in an effort to conduct damage control as Operation Fast and Furious gets uglier and as election day 2012 gets closer. ATF agents wouldn’t be reassigned to other positions, just simply let go. Current duties of ATF, including the enforcement of explosives and gun laws, would be transferred to other agencies, possibly the FBI and the DEA. According to a congressional source, there have been rumblings about the elimination of ATF for quite sometime, but the move would require major political capital to actually happen.

“It’s a serious white paper being circulated, how far they’d get with it I don’t know,” a confidential source said.

After a town hall meeting about Operation Fast and Furious in Tucson, Ariz. on Monday, ATF Whistleblower Vince Cefalu, who has been key in exposing details about Operation Fast and Furious, confirmed the elimination of ATF has been circulating as a serious idea for sometime now and that a white paper outlining the plan does exist.

Sounds great right? Eliminating ATF? But there is more to this story. Remember, low level ATF field agents, like ATF whistleblower John Dodson, were uncomfortable conducting Operation Fast and Furious from the beginning, but were told by high level officials within ATF that if they had a problem with the operation, they could find a job elsewhere.

“Allowing loads of weapons that we knew to be destined for criminals, this was the plan. It was so mandated,” ATF Whistleblower John Dodson said in testimony on Capitol Hill on June 15, 2011.

In fact, not only were the ATF agents forced to carry out the operation, they were told to go against what they had been taught in training.

“This operation, which in my opinion endangered the American public, was orchestrated in conjunction with Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory Hurley. [Emory Hurley is the same Assistant U.S. Attorney who previously prevented agents from using some of the common and accepted law enforcement techniques that are employed elsewhere in the United States to investigate and prosecute gun crimes.] I have read documents that indicate that his boss, U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke, also agreed with the direction of the case,” Special Agent Peter Forcelli said in testimony on Capitol hill on June 15, 2011.

“I recall my first days at the ATF academy, where it was drilled into us as new agents that under no circumstances would any firearms, in any investigation, leave the control of ATF. Instructors stressed that even if a weapon was lost “by accident,” the agent was still subject to termination,” former ATF Attaché to Mexico Darren D. Gil said in testimony on June 15, 2011.

ATF field agents weren’t the problem with Operation Fast and Furious, high ranking officials within ATF and the Department of Justice were and still are. DOJ would eliminate ATF only to take the heat off of the Obama Administration. By eliminating the bureau, it makes it seem like DOJ is taking Operation Fast and Furious so seriously, they decided to “clear out the corruption, clean house,” however, it would only be a distraction away from the people at the top of the investigation. In fact, evidence shows the DOJ has been stonewalling the Oversight Committee investigation into the operation to protect Obama political appointees.

“It was very frustrating to all of us, and it appears thoroughly to us that the Department is really trying to figure out a way to push the information away from their political appointees at the Department,” former ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson, who has since been moved to a position within DOJ, said of his frustration with the Justice Department’s response to the investigation in transcribed closed door testimony with the Oversight Committee in July 2011.

When I called the Department of Justice last week (five times) to request the white paper and receive a comment surrounding the idea of eliminating ATF, I received the following response: “Everyone is away from their desk right now.”


Up to this point, the Department of Justice has denied all allegations or involvement in Operation Fast and Furious, yet journalists and the House Oversight Committee have proved allegation after allegation to be true. For example, during a Congressional hearing in July, former ATF Special Agent in Charge William Newell, who has since been promoted to a position within the Justice Department, denied that his agency was trafficking guns to Mexico, despite overwhelming evidence and testimony from other ATF agents proving otherwise.

“At no time in our strategy was it to allow guns to be taken to Mexico,” Newell said on July 26, 2011, adding that at no time did his agency allow guns to walk.

We’ve heard this was a low level, “rogue” operation, turns out high level officials in the Justice Department, DEA, FBI, DHS, and even members of the White House national security team knew about Operation Fast and Furious.

Last week, ATF offered 400 agents buy outs to avoid budget cuts and is expecting 250-275 agents to take the offer through Voluntary Early Retirement. These buyouts come at a convenient time for the Justice Department, which can eliminate ATF, then say it’s because of budget cuts, when really, it’s to cover their tracks.

[ISpy]

Twin, your last sentence sounds like JT in LA.

I still think he needs to talk to street Agents to get a feel for Mgt and who to trust. We all know there are some great SACs/ASACs/RACs and some that are Great in their own minds but tyrants to the field. We know who got the job by ability and who got it by who they knew, who they partied with, who they looked like and how they "studied" for the assessment center.....not that the assessment center really matters since they'll find a "reason" to pick who they want anyway.

[Twin]

Big changes cannot happen soon enough. I am encouraged that Mr. Jones has recently met with field SAC's and excluded AD's and DAD's from the meetings. The sooner he initiates changes, the sooner the field will take him serious and support him. I can see why Mr. Jones would reach out to ATF people he is familiar with, and for the short term that is a practical way to learn some things. As he gets aquainted with the organization he will hopefully begin to identify the real talented leaders that we have scattered throughout the agency. It should not matter if future appointments jump the chain, the goal should be to put the best and brightest in the appropriate positions. We have to get away from "business as usual". Not sure how close Mr. Jones is to the SAC Boston, other than the Minnesota connection. He will soon learn that he is dealing with a nice guy who is in way over his head. He has driven morale in Boston through the floor. He is one of those people that thinks credibility comes with the postition, and will attempt to convince anyone who will listen that he has done it all. My experience has been that reputations speak for themselves, if you have to tell people about yourself, chances are, what you are saying is BS.

[Plain Old ATF Agent]

Word is leaking out of HQ this week, to us plain old agents in the field that our new Acting Director is in fact planning on making some personnel moves very shortly. The Acting Director has told the 5th floor jerk off’s that the management of ATF will look entirely different by January 1 and has said in so many words that most will be gone. Mr. Jones is not too impressed with what he has seen and been told thus far by the 5th floor executives. Jones is telling people close to him at DOJ and at the OUSA in Minnesota that he can’t believe some of the people are in the positions they are in and that the agency is in worse shape than he was led to believe. Looks like Mr. Jones is scouting out available talent within and outside the agency but is finding it difficult to get firm commitments from people because of the politically charged atmosphere surrounding Fast and Furious and the rejuvenation of the gun control debate that this scandal has created. Nobody wants to get tagged with it on their resume. Hoover and Chait are definitely being forced out one way or another. He is on the fence as to several others. Assistant Directors are telling their confidants and close staffers to expect announcements very soon that they are being replaced. A major shake-up is being planned across the board. Jones is keeping everything very close to the vest and his new Chief of Staff has had significant input into the proposed personnel decisions. SAC of the Boston Field Division is being considered for an AD or Deputy Director slot. We could be going from worse to worser if that clown in Boston gets his hands on the controls. Look for others in the Minnesota to factor prominently into his plans, some jumping several levels up the chain of command from their current positions. As usual, and predicted by many, no real reforms or changes. Just a new group of haves and have not’s.

As it was explained to me by a staffer in my Democratic Congressmen's Office, the worry from the political people at DOJ, the White House and the DNC is that as election day comes closer and closer, if things with Fast and Furious aren’t promptly addressed, Republicans not only will have the poor economy and high unemployment to slam over the heads of Democrats, but the gun control issue as well, which puts several swing states into play that Obama carried in the last election. In the initial planning for reelection gun control wasn’t even considered as being an issue, but Fast and Furious has changed all that. So much so, that polling and focus groups are now being used by the Democrats to gauge public opinion regarding Fast and Furious, ATF and gun control issues. Not surprisingly, it seems that most of America has never heard of Operation Fast and Furious and has no idea who or what ATF is or does. Gun control on the other hand is very different; Americans have very strong opinions in that area even if they have never heard of scandal or ATF.

[ProConfesso]

Proconfesso,

For the sake a good illustrative example let's talk about firearms registration like you suggested...

NFRTR or the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record:

Every lawful NFA firearm in the United States that civilians can own are on that data base maintained by the ATF's National Firearms Act branch. Now I could bring up a youtube video of "Roll Call" training by Tom Busy in October of 1995 where he states the data base is only 50% correct, but to swear under oath it's 100% correct, but that was quite a while ago.

There is overwhelming documentation that ATF IOI's have used licensed dealer records to "correct the NFRTR. Myself having an audit that revealed that ATF lost track of 4 machineguns [and used my records to correct it].

More to Ike's point;

It does not even slow down a criminal who makes or acquires his "un-registered" or unlawful NFA firearm. The only thing that registration does is monitor what law abiding citizen possesses what firearms....sorta bypasses the need for the data base in the first place doesn't it?

Having had first hand knowledge that the NFRTR has been used to either seize registered firearms for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is errors committed by ATF NFA branch employees who forgot to stamp them "post May 19, 1986 dealer sample". Only to discover the mistake many ownership transfers later.

The ATF in US v. Friesen used the data base to "borrow" [read that take by force of govt.] lawfully registered private property to use as evidence against another NFA firearms owner....not all where returned.

It appears that the only useful "purpose" is to confiscate, albeit temporarily in some cases. Not be forgotten the whole NFA thing was supposed to be about taxes, not about limiting ownership.

If you are about bad guys going to jail, I'm with you Proconfesso...but registration does not help you do that.

Bringing my post back on track to the subject:

How much many field agents and operational successes at real investigations of real criminals could be done if things were simplified by no NFA/GCA distinction in firearms just "prohibited persons" can't own firearms.

With the elimination of the NFA branch look at the amount of funds for getting the bad guys behind bars that would suddenly open up.

Your points are well understood. I don't think that contraband, here in the sense of criminal ownership, can ever be totally eliminated - for any commodity. However, I do see a significant decline in straw purchasers. I think when you have responsibility in ownership and accountability their will be less criminal behavior. I know it is a lightening rod but we register lots of things like automobiles. I wouldn't be nominating ATF for the task.
I agree about your focus on prohibited persons. Listen here http://www.wor710.co...es/8386022.php? I can't send direct link. You have to go to this page and scroll down to February 4, 2011 and look for Mayor Bloomberg. listen at 33:35. A week before Mayor Bloomberg had been critical of the US Army for not sharing information about the reported failed drug test of the AZ shooter - and how it might have prevented his gun ownership. Somehow he thinks it ok for other prohibited persons.

[Zorro]

BOONDOGGLE BOLO: Now that we have a budget, look for taxpayer funded vacations... anyone who gets wind of it, please post here or PM me and I will post upon verification.

[avatar]

The Treasury Department Inspector General answered one of your questions in 1998: As of September 30, 1997, there were 104,357 original registrants still listed in the NFRTR as in current possession of the NFA weapon, of whom 29,776 registered the weapon during the period 1934 to 1949. See page 19 at http://www.nfaoa.org...99-018-1998.pdf I can’t say much for the quality of that “audit,” in view of the fact that “inasmuch as “Our [audit] scope did not include a review of the accuracy of ATF’s certifications in criminal prosecutions that no record of the accuracy of ATF’s certifications in criminal prosecutions that no record of registration of a particular weapon could be found in the registry. We also did not evaluate the procedures that ATF persnnel use to search the registry to enable them to provide an assurance to the court that no such registration exists in specific cases. Accordingly, this report does not provide an opinion as to the accuracy of the registry searches conducted by ATF.” A careful read of the 1998 report does not inspire confidence in the NFRTR or its management. In a motion in limine filed in a criminal case in 2009, there is considerable evidence that the NFRTR is inaccurate and incomplete and, therefore, unreliable, based on a long historical look at the public record--the source documents are clearly cited and explained; people are free to read them and come to their own conclusions. The detail might make your eyes bleed, but here it is in case you want to give it a read, because it delves into the sorts of details you are raising: http://www.nfaoa.org...mine_NFRTR.pdf. It is worth nothing that the author of the motion in limine sent a copy to two specialists at the NFA Branch who work exclusively with the NFRTR, in the interests of fair play although ATF is under no obligation to share information with people who are trying to figure out how accurate the NFRTR is. Apparently, nobody at ATF had shared the motion in limine with either of them. After the criminal case referred to above was settled, ATF released a number of documents created by IOIs who did compliance inspections of SOTs, when they found registered NFA firearms or devices in the SOTs’ inventories, for which there was no record in ATF’s version of the NFRTR (there are more than 800 examples of NFA firearms or devices that were added back into the NFRTR based on the SOTs' copies of their approved Forms 2 or 3). This post would be abominably long to explain all this completely; readers who want to know more should go to http://www.nfaoa.org/resources.html; then go to the section entitled “Legal issues regarding the accuracy and completeness of the NFRTR” and click it open; and then go to the entry titled “ATF releases evidence it has added firearms to the NFRTR after obtaining SOT records.” There is, directly, above, an exchange between ATF and a citizen (titled “In June 2010, ATF Deputy Director responds to citizen concerns about the legal validity of NFRTR evidence.” To sum it up in English: The ATF Deputy Director said that the NFRTR could not possibly reflect NFA applications/paperwork that ATF had not yet received (and hence could not update the NFRTR). The problem with that statement is that no NFA firearm or device can be transferred unless ATF approves the application to do so in advance, and since before Caesar’s wife was born, those applications have been filed in duplicate original. The problem is that ATF lost the copy of the transfer application that it approved; there was no issue of ATF not having received the NFA paperwork, because ATF approved it in-house in the first place. Because ATF is not open about NFRTR procedures and activities, it is possible that questions about the NFRTR that exist now could be answered easily; however, that doesn’t appear to be ATF’s policy. IOIs and others who might contribute to a better understanding of NFRTR policies and procedures could enlighten many people who have long wondered about various aspects of the NFRTR, as you have demonstrated in your post.

[Ike]

Just to keep it interesting.... While we're on the NFRTR subject... I suspect ATF wouldn't be any more competent with a firearms registration system than they are with the NFRTR. The NFRTR originated back in 1934. Maybe someone in ATF can answer the following questions:

1. How many NFA weapons in NFRTR are still registered to the original owners? [Hmmm If you were 30 when you registered your Thompson in 1934, you would be 107 years old today.]

2. How many NFA weapons in NFRTR are registered to dead persons?

3. How many NFA weapons are registered to companies that have gone out of business?

4. How many NFA weapons are still registered to the original address?

5. How many NFA registrations are still in the NFRTR for Luger carbines? Mauser C96 pistols with shoulder stock? Artillery Lugers with stock? I know there are some.... I've got the paper.

That's only a start.....

Regarding the "Roll Call" training by Tom Busey in October of 1995; ATF went to extraordinary lengths to keep the video secret. FOIA requests were denied, and when it came up in Brady motions, ATF moved to seal the record. However, they apparently forgot to seal the record in one case, and the video got out. The rest, as they say, is history - and here's the video where Busey states the data base is only 50% correct, but to always swear under oath it's 100% correct - admitted ATF Perjury: http://www.armsandth...ollcall2meg.mp4

[Historic Arms LLC]

Proconfesso,

For the sake a good illustrative example let's talk about firearms registration like you suggested...

NFRTR or the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record:

Every lawful NFA firearm in the United States that civilians can own are on that data base maintained by the ATF's National Firearms Act branch. Now I could bring up a youtube video of "Roll Call" training by Tom Busy in October of 1995 where he states the data base is only 50% correct, but to swear under oath it's 100% correct, but that was quite a while ago.

There is overwhelming documentation that ATF IOI's have used licensed dealer records to "correct the NFRTR. Myself having an audit that revealed that ATF lost track of 4 machineguns [and used my records to correct it].

More to Ike's point;

It does not even slow down a criminal who makes or acquires his "un-registered" or unlawful NFA firearm. The only thing that registration does is monitor what law abiding citizen possesses what firearms....sorta bypasses the need for the data base in the first place doesn't it?

Having had first hand knowledge that the NFRTR has been used to either seize registered firearms for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is errors committed by ATF NFA branch employees who forgot to stamp them "post May 19, 1986 dealer sample". Only to discover the mistake many ownership transfers later.

The ATF in US v. Friesen used the data base to "borrow" [read that take by force of govt.] lawfully registered private property to use as evidence against another NFA firearms owner....not all where returned.

It appears that the only useful "purpose" is to confiscate, albeit temporarily in some cases. Not be forgotten the whole NFA thing was supposed to be about taxes, not about limiting ownership.

If you are about bad guys going to jail, I'm with you Proconfesso...but registration does not help you do that.

Bringing my post back on track to the subject:

How much many field agents and operational successes at real investigations of real criminals could be done if things were simplified by no NFA/GCA distinction in firearms just "prohibited persons" can't own firearms.

With the elimination of the NFA branch look at the amount of funds for getting the bad guys behind bars that would suddenly open up.

[Ike]

ProConfesso:

We could cut the need for ATF? Right. Who would handle all the firearm registration data? ATF, right? And, who would do the inspection, investigation, enforcement and prosecution for the new registration laws.... ATF, right? Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera! (quote from "The King and I")

Full Registration? Let's not go there.

[Ike]

ProConfesso:

Yep, you're right. With full registration of firearms and firearm owners, ATF (and any other LEA) could instantly check on every lawful gun and gun owner. That would make it so much easier for Law Enforcement.... And, of course, all the criminals will immediately register their guns, won't they? This works so well in other countries, doesn't it?

And, while you're at it, let's register all the people in the country (the illegals will also immediately register themselves, won't they?), and you can require us to let you know whenever we leave home - so you can track all of us as well. Then, when you want to pick someone up for questioning, just check the database. Right. He's at the movies with his wife. We'll arrest him there. Right. Don't forget the network of paid informants to report people who might be doing things they shouldn't. Where do we stop a 'police state' mentality? You should read "Stasi: The Untold Story Of The East German Secret Police", by John O Koehler - or is that an ATF textbook? Pardon the sarcasm - but you've just stepped onto a very slippery slope...

[ProConfesso]

IKE: My understanding of is that the funding that supplies those give aways comes either from the program direct budget where monies are appropriated for such purchases or from the general DOJ asset forfeiture account. When ATF/DEA/FBI/USMS seize assets from criminals they are placed in this general fund which the contributing agencies can utilize to pay for training, contractors, investigative expenses, etc.

Just wanted to correct something that I stated before about firearm tracing. I stated e-trace provided the investigator with last known possessor. What I should have said was that e-trace provides that last "over the counter purchaser". I still think that firearm tracing is a great tool for federal, state and local police investigators. It has helped me in the past and continues to identify potential firearm traffickers.

FACE IT. "Tracing" is an antediluvian LE tool in the world of instant information. It is kept in place by an unholy alliance of the gun lobby and an Agency, who without exclusive first hand control of the info, would CEASE to be relevant and become the fossil that it should. The paper record of a last known retail purchaser of a firearm is slow, less than definitive and sometimes a dead end. Want to get a grip on urban gun crime? Ammend GCA or whatever that prohibits NCIC like record, available to all LE, created at point of sale of a firearm that records purchaser. All subsequent transfers would have to be likewise recorded just like the sale of an automobile - which any state DMV requires. When you can get over the mistaken notion of the G having a reord of gun ownership and individuals are held responsible for their possession of a weapon - and a cop on the beat or a detective in a squad room can automatically query firearm ownership (for a legitimate LE purpose - just like any other criminal history) - well then you can cut the fed budget and the need for atf. just saying.

[Ike]

Veritas:

Thank you for the info on funding for ATF "advertising" material.

You said, "What I should have said was that e-trace provides that last "over the counter purchaser."

That's still incorrect (no offense intended). I didn't pull my earlier statement out of my hat. From the "ATF Fact Sheet", "eTrace: Internet-Based Firearms Tracing and Analysis", dated March, 2010:

"Firearms tracing through eTrace is the systematic tracking of a recovered firearm from its manufacturer or importer and subsequent introduction into the distribution chain (wholesaler/retailer) to the first retail purchase."
http://www.atf.gov/p...eet-etrace.html

eTrace cannot report the "last" over the counter purchaser. After the first retail sale, each firearm disappears from ATF view. If it later is acquired by another dealer and resold, then that 'later' sale will be visible to ATF in the dealer's books, but may not be detected until that dealer goes out of business.

There is no doubt that tracing can be useful for law enforcement, if the system is used as it was intended to be used; as a 'starting point' for investigation, keeping in mind that the 'first purchaser' may be completely innocent of any criminal act. The older the gun is, the more likely that the 'first purchaser' is innocent.

However, as ATF has pushed for more and more traces, it is clear that eTrace has been evolving into a firearms (and firearm owner) registration system, specifically prohibited by Congress in the FOPA of 1986. ATF Ruling 2008-2, which requires a digital file of all dealer firearm transactions (by itself, a registration system), makes that exceptionally clear.

ATF's Gary L. Thomas, in the 2003 United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research paper, referred to the "Gold Standard" of tracing being "web-based registration". ATF's intention couldn't be more clear.

[GoodWorker]

I know for sure that the agent has been indicted from the Tulsa ATF office. And what I also know for sure, is after the indictment of the agent, Internal Affairs came to the Tulsa office and audited the Agent Cashier, as well as other items, and found infractions involving the RAC in that office. There were infractions found by the IA having to do with the RAC, Agent Cashier and the Agent who was indicted. That's all the information I have, BUT I have been made aware that no disciplinary action has been taken against the RAC. And because of the tremendous embarrasment caused by the "indicted agent", the RAC still remains in that office. It's another example of "double standards"!

Very interesting. Thanks for the update. http://www.newson6.c...ole-drugs-money