Vincent A. Cefalu, Special Agent, ATF

Vincent A. Cefalu, Special Agent, ATF

Vincent A. "Vince" Cefalu is a decorated veteran undercover Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Before joining ATF, he was a U.S. Customs Agent and police officer after serving in the United States Marine Corps. For more than 20 years, Vince has gone head-to-head during undercover operations against dangerous criminals in the U.S. and abroad.

However, in 2008, while serving as ATF task force agent on an undercover operation in Modesto County, CA, Cefalu rightfully objected to the use of unlawful wiretaps that were being requested by other members of the task force. Cefalu's ATF managers initially supported his stand, but later reversed their position and threatened Cefalu with a transfer to Fargo, North Dakota and other punitive actions if he refused to "cooperate" by looking the other way regarding the illegal wire applications.

Vince categorically refused, which resulted in a litany of completely unethical and in many cases, illegal actions against him by ATF management. This included several bogus Internal Affairs investigations, mandatory examinations by psychiatrists, 5 transfers in less than 2 years, several suspensions, 2 attempted terminations, and numerous other completely unwarranted and retaliatory actions against him. His family was basically destroyed and his health suffered. His badge and gun were taken away, and he was shunted into an office for several years with no real duties. Still, he refused to knuckle under.

Vince filed several comprehensive complaints, and now has a lawsuit against the Bureau which is approaching hearing. He was also instrumental in the founding of www.CleanUpATF.org, took his case to the American people on national television,

During a deposition involving Cefalu's complaints, his direct Supervisors committed felony perjury and obstruction of justice. One of them, while being question regarding matters under his direct authority, stated "I don't know", "I don't recall" (or variations thereof) more than 150 times in a single interview. This is the kind of egregious managerial malfeasance that Cefalu has been up against since taking on the bureau's machine which relentlessly, attacks, smears, bankrupts and destroys anyone that steps "out of line".

But despite the best efforts of ATF management and their legal team to crush him, Vince has not only remained standing, but in many ways, has become a leading voice for legitimate Whistleblowers who have risked everything to fight government waste, fraud and abuse.

www.CleanUpATF.org salutes Vince Cefalu for demanding ethical conduct on the part of federal law enforcement, refusing to back down despite vicious smears and attacks by ATF and DOJ management, and for lending his wisdom and experience to countless other Whistleblowers.