West Point Graduate Steals $690,000 of Army Funds

He is my classmate and I knew him back at the academy. I didn't know him well, but had a few classes with him. I'm pretty sure I did a project or two with him, as well. I just opened up the Army Times and read his name and had to come check the internet to be sure. I'm sincerely disappointed to find out that he's done this. I wouldn't have guessed that he'd do something so blatantly opposed to the values and morals we should already have as human beings, not just as officers, soldiers, or academy grads.

Chris
 
He is my classmate and I knew him back at the academy. I didn't know him well, but had a few classes with him. I'm pretty sure I did a project or two with him, as well. I just opened up the Army Times and read his name and had to come check the internet to be sure. I'm sincerely disappointed to find out that he's done this. I wouldn't have guessed that he'd do something so blatantly opposed to the values and morals we should already have as human beings, not just as officers, soldiers, or academy grads.

Chris

Wow! Can't believe you were able to check him up on the internet like that, Michael Nguyen is a VERY common name. I know at least six Michael Nguyens :p

But yeah, I was SHOCKED. I had all these questions running through my mind: Why SO MUCH money, why such frivolous spending, why pull off such a dumb move, did he really think he wouldn't get caught, what does his family think now, what do they feel, what happened to the values he was supposed to uphold, why do something so outrageous!! ARGH, head spinning!
 
A very sad story, and I'm sure it's not the only one we'll hear about.

From my own personal experience "over there", the situation has been similar to the "Wild West" for some time, especially the first few years. Slowly improving, but at a maddingly slow pace.

The money issue was a particular problem I saw. Quite literally PILES of money, haphazardly laying about in military coffers, with oversight being an afterthought. For some, the temptation proved too great.

True story time: While I was there at Camp Victory (Military Coalition HQ) in the spring of 04, the administration directed that the American forces pump money into the local economy through a "purchase program". Every unit was given fresh printed American cash to go out and purchase goods and services from the local populace. The amount of money your unit was given was directly in proportion to the size of your unit. My unit was the Group HQ staff, about 45 people directly at my location (they didn't count the other 250 people I was in charge of, as they were spread throughout the country and would receive their own money).

So, I send my Chief Master Sgt and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Army CA's office for a meeting on how and when we could expect the funds. The come strolling in later that afternoon, and stop by my office.

Me: "So Chief, how did it go? Are we getting any funds, we could use some new furniture here."

Chief: "Great, sir! They're gave us $20K!"

Me: "Really? Great news! Do we need to set up an account somewhere or file some paperwork to get access to the fund site? I'd like to get moving on this before everyone else here buys up all the good stuff."

Chief: "Oh no, sir! They gave me cash!"

Me (Shocked): "Cash???!!!"

Chief: "Yep" And he proceeds to pull a thick roll of brand new hundred dollar bills out out of his pants pocket. True Gangsta style...

Me (even more shocked): "Jeepers Christmas! (Not really what I said, but close). They just GAVE you a roll of money? What's you're plan for keeping track of this"

Chief: "Easy. We go out and spend it and get a receipt.The Army said they'll take any receipt, even a hand written note."

Me (getting more and more amazed at the idiocy of the whole situation by the minute): "Well, what's your plan for documenting and controlling this cash"

Chief (smile growing by the minute): "Just as simple. I'll hold the cash, the Senior will keep and track the receipts"

Me (seeing the potential for fraud, waste and abuse on a scale that would put Maddoff to shame): "Well, once you come up with a plan for the spending, let me know. I want to get the best bang for the (multiple) buck"

Chief: "No worries sir. The army said once we spend all this, they'll just give us more, no questions asked. And they said they'll keep doing that until told to stop."

Me (envisioning my future potential court martial for not stopping this in its tracks): "Uh, let's me add a FEW wrinkles to you plan to track this. Sit down Chief. Oh, and hand over that cash...."

Just a single example of the "temtpations" that were there in regards to the ridiculous amounts of cash just being thrown around that place with little to no oversight. For most, integrity and honesty kicks into high gear and you naturally do the right thing (the little Bullet on my right shoulder was nearly apoplexic, jumping up and down while screaming, "Bullet! Don't even Go there!" I think he even went over and punched the not-so-nice Bullet on my other shoulder in the face and told him to shut up:biggrin:). For a sorry few, the temptation to take "just a little, nobody's tracking this, and there is SO MUCH they'll never miss it" was just too great. I guess they listened to the guy on the wrong shoulder...

And I'm spent (again)....
You should try being the "young captain" working a "black project" that has been given a checkbook that says: "Use for your project; there is NO documentation as that could compromise security..."

Ahhh...the silly things that come to mind before honor and integrity take over.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
A very sad story, and I'm sure it's not the only one we'll hear about.

From my own personal experience "over there", the situation has been similar to the "Wild West" for some time, especially the first few years. Slowly improving, but at a maddingly slow pace.

The money issue was a particular problem I saw. Quite literally PILES of money, haphazardly laying about in military coffers, with oversight being an afterthought. For some, the temptation proved too great.

True story time: While I was there at Camp Victory (Military Coalition HQ) in the spring of 04, the administration directed that the American forces pump money into the local economy through a "purchase program". Every unit was given fresh printed American cash to go out and purchase goods and services from the local populace. The amount of money your unit was given was directly in proportion to the size of your unit. My unit was the Group HQ staff, about 45 people directly at my location (they didn't count the other 250 people I was in charge of, as they were spread throughout the country and would receive their own money).

So, I send my Chief Master Sgt and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Army CA's office for a meeting on how and when we could expect the funds. The come strolling in later that afternoon, and stop by my office.

Me: "So Chief, how did it go? Are we getting any funds, we could use some new furniture here."

Chief: "Great, sir! They're gave us $20K!"

Me: "Really? Great news! Do we need to set up an account somewhere or file some paperwork to get access to the fund site? I'd like to get moving on this before everyone else here buys up all the good stuff."

Chief: "Oh no, sir! They gave me cash!"

Me (Shocked): "Cash???!!!"

Chief: "Yep" And he proceeds to pull a thick roll of brand new hundred dollar bills out out of his pants pocket. True Gangsta style...

Me (even more shocked): "Jeepers Christmas! (Not really what I said, but close). They just GAVE you a roll of money? What's you're plan for keeping track of this"

Chief: "Easy. We go out and spend it and get a receipt.The Army said they'll take any receipt, even a hand written note."

Me (getting more and more amazed at the idiocy of the whole situation by the minute): "Well, what's your plan for documenting and controlling this cash"

Chief (smile growing by the minute): "Just as simple. I'll hold the cash, the Senior will keep and track the receipts"

Me (seeing the potential for fraud, waste and abuse on a scale that would put Maddoff to shame): "Well, once you come up with a plan for the spending, let me know. I want to get the best bang for the (multiple) buck"

Chief: "No worries sir. The army said once we spend all this, they'll just give us more, no questions asked. And they said they'll keep doing that until told to stop."

Me (envisioning my future potential court martial for not stopping this in its tracks): "Uh, let's me add a FEW wrinkles to you plan to track this. Sit down Chief. Oh, and hand over that cash...."

Just a single example of the "temtpations" that were there in regards to the ridiculous amounts of cash just being thrown around that place with little to no oversight. For most, integrity and honesty kicks into high gear and you naturally do the right thing (the little Bullet on my right shoulder was nearly apoplexic, jumping up and down while screaming, "Bullet! Don't even Go there!" I think he even went over and punched the not-so-nice Bullet on my other shoulder in the face and told him to shut up:biggrin:). For a sorry few, the temptation to take "just a little, nobody's tracking this, and there is SO MUCH they'll never miss it" was just too great. I guess they listened to the guy on the wrong shoulder...

And I'm spent (again)....

So Bullet, if you hadn't stepped in, would the Chief have done the right thing out of curiosity?
 
Man, yall have bad taste in cars.
Its all about the 1970 Buick GSX or the '70 Chevelle SS :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
 
Wow! Can't believe you were able to check him up on the internet like that, Michael Nguyen is a VERY common name. I know at least six Michael Nguyens :p

But yeah, I was SHOCKED. I had all these questions running through my mind: Why SO MUCH money, why such frivolous spending, why pull off such a dumb move, did he really think he wouldn't get caught, what does his family think now, what do they feel, what happened to the values he was supposed to uphold, why do something so outrageous!! ARGH, head spinning!

I recognized the name from the paper. I checked online to make sure that the one who stole the money was an '04 grad, because the Army times didn't clarify. To the best of my knowledge, there was only one Michael Nguyen in my class. At least I only knew one.

Chris
 
This man has no honor. :thumbdown: He is also very stupid if he thought he could get away with this.

His greediness and lack of discretion, not his stupidity, is what caused him not to "get away with it." :wink:

There were small fortunes being made in Iraq because people were ordered to get cash into the economy as fast as possible and with little accountability. Some of the biggest culprits were our interpreters who conspired with the Iraqis to get kickbacks for 'arranging' deals. That's what happens when we give terps cell phones and they have conversations we don't understand.

Fortunately the game changed and we are now paying in Iraqi Dinars. It won't be so easy to convert hundreds of millions of ID into USD. In my opinion, it was a mistake to put so much US currency into the hands of so many without proper accounting procedures.
 
I recognized the name from the paper. I checked online to make sure that the one who stole the money was an '04 grad, because the Army times didn't clarify. To the best of my knowledge, there was only one Michael Nguyen in my class. At least I only knew one.

Chris

If I had to guess, I think he was being facetious, that's not a common name.
 
If I had to guess, I think he was being facetious, that's not a common name.

Heh, actually, I was serious. At least where I live, and I live in an area with a very large Vietnamese community, Nguyen is a very common surname and Michael is a pretty common name in general.
 
So Bullet, if you hadn't stepped in, would the Chief have done the right thing out of curiosity?

Oh, I'm positive the thought to just pocket some cash never crossed the Chief's mind. He was a straight-up, hard-charging leader who I respected tremendously (and more importantly, so did his troops under him).

What had me nervous abou the whole situation was the lack of any plan, AT EVERY LEVEL, for accountability. I never doubted the integrity of myself or my troop leaders for a second. But my thought was eventually someone, somewhere would start thinking in a common sense way and ask for a proper accountability of all that money. And questions would be asked, and the folks asking that question wouldn't know me or the Chief from a hill of beans. Proof would be required.

Well, that was what I thought at the time. Little did I know that the BILLIONS flushed down toilets there would never raise any kind of call for accountability. Not in these days, when spending TRILLIONS no longer bats an eye from anyone.

Sigh...
 
You don't count, man... You can't even have a car till next year :shake::yllol::thumb:

You, know...a lot of people have mistaken my name to mean I am a current cadet graduating in 2012. In reality, I am a sophomore in HS entering an SA/ROTC in 2012. Maybe I should change my screen name?

SO technically, I could have car right now, if I had any money to buy one (cause my parents definitely won't)...sigh, its really sad watching little freshmen driving by while I !still! ride the bus w/ no car...:rolleyes:...those who have one, relish it for a moment.
 
Oh, I'm positive the thought to just pocket some cash never crossed the Chief's mind. He was a straight-up, hard-charging leader who I respected tremendously (and more importantly, so did his troops under him).

What had me nervous abou the whole situation was the lack of any plan, AT EVERY LEVEL, for accountability. I never doubted the integrity of myself or my troop leaders for a second. But my thought was eventually someone, somewhere would start thinking in a common sense way and ask for a proper accountability of all that money. And questions would be asked, and the folks asking that question wouldn't know me or the Chief from a hill of beans. Proof would be required.

Well, that was what I thought at the time. Little did I know that the BILLIONS flushed down toilets there would never raise any kind of call for accountability. Not in these days, when spending TRILLIONS no longer bats an eye from anyone.

Sigh...

I agree with you 100%, the whole program was crazy from the start! I guess it was easy to 'just print up billions' instead of actually sending goods and services that might have had some benefit here at home. The money was accepted as play money and it's end result was play money, not a surprise but...someone way smarter than I, thought up that great way to win "hearts and minds"....[/vomit]

I also agree on your last point with a colective....sigh...
 
A very sad story, and I'm sure it's not the only one we'll hear about.

From my own personal experience "over there", the situation has been similar to the "Wild West" for some time, especially the first few years. Slowly improving, but at a maddingly slow pace.

The money issue was a particular problem I saw. Quite literally PILES of money, haphazardly laying about in military coffers, with oversight being an afterthought. For some, the temptation proved too great.

True story time: While I was there at Camp Victory (Military Coalition HQ) in the spring of 04, the administration directed that the American forces pump money into the local economy through a "purchase program". Every unit was given fresh printed American cash to go out and purchase goods and services from the local populace. The amount of money your unit was given was directly in proportion to the size of your unit. My unit was the Group HQ staff, about 45 people directly at my location (they didn't count the other 250 people I was in charge of, as they were spread throughout the country and would receive their own money).

So, I send my Chief Master Sgt and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Army CA's office for a meeting on how and when we could expect the funds. The come strolling in later that afternoon, and stop by my office.

Me: "So Chief, how did it go? Are we getting any funds, we could use some new furniture here."

Chief: "Great, sir! They're gave us $20K!"

Me: "Really? Great news! Do we need to set up an account somewhere or file some paperwork to get access to the fund site? I'd like to get moving on this before everyone else here buys up all the good stuff."

Chief: "Oh no, sir! They gave me cash!"

Me (Shocked): "Cash???!!!"

Chief: "Yep" And he proceeds to pull a thick roll of brand new hundred dollar bills out out of his pants pocket. True Gangsta style...

Me (even more shocked): "Jeepers Christmas! (Not really what I said, but close). They just GAVE you a roll of money? What's you're plan for keeping track of this"

Chief: "Easy. We go out and spend it and get a receipt.The Army said they'll take any receipt, even a hand written note."

Me (getting more and more amazed at the idiocy of the whole situation by the minute): "Well, what's your plan for documenting and controlling this cash"

Chief (smile growing by the minute): "Just as simple. I'll hold the cash, the Senior will keep and track the receipts"

Me (seeing the potential for fraud, waste and abuse on a scale that would put Maddoff to shame): "Well, once you come up with a plan for the spending, let me know. I want to get the best bang for the (multiple) buck"

Chief: "No worries sir. The army said once we spend all this, they'll just give us more, no questions asked. And they said they'll keep doing that until told to stop."

Me (envisioning my future potential court martial for not stopping this in its tracks): "Uh, let's me add a FEW wrinkles to you plan to track this. Sit down Chief. Oh, and hand over that cash...."

Just a single example of the "temtpations" that were there in regards to the ridiculous amounts of cash just being thrown around that place with little to no oversight. For most, integrity and honesty kicks into high gear and you naturally do the right thing (the little Bullet on my right shoulder was nearly apoplexic, jumping up and down while screaming, "Bullet! Don't even Go there!" I think he even went over and punched the not-so-nice Bullet on my other shoulder in the face and told him to shut up:biggrin:). For a sorry few, the temptation to take "just a little, nobody's tracking this, and there is SO MUCH they'll never miss it" was just too great. I guess they listened to the guy on the wrong shoulder...

And I'm spent (again)....


An embarrassing situation. Im not just upset that it was a West Point graduate that committed this crime but also angry about the handling of this incident. It seems to me that although it certainly was Nguyen's fault, someone "higher up" screwed up by not having brains enough to put some oversight into it and letting something like this happen.

What happened to Nguyen anyway? I hope he's paying dearly for what he did :smile:
 
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