Woman Charged Breast Job On Pentagon Plastic

Defense Week Daily Update | August 8, 2003 | John M. Donnelly

[SLB]

WASHINGTON, August 8--A female Marine Corps staff sergeant was convicted in June of using her Defense Department credit card to buy a car, a motorcycle, furniture, household goods--and a breast job, Defense Week has learned.

Staff Sergeant Sherry Pierre, an active duty Marine who worked for Marine Forces Reserve headquarters command in New Orleans, used her Pentagon plastic to rack up $129,709 in goods, services and upgrades to her physique, a command spokesman confirmed.

Pierre's previously unpublicized surgery may have given her a lift, but the tale is hardly uplifting. It is among the more egregious examples of a military employee abusing a government purchase card that is meant to increase efficiency, not waste. Her story illustrates a larger problem: A lack of management controls on nearly $7 billion in annual Pentagon credit-card purchases. The Pentagon has made strides to solve the problem, but many of the solutions are just now taking root.

Pierre's scheme transpired between 2000 and 2001, a period that, the Pentagon points out, pre-dates its major initiatives to rein in credit-card waste.

Pierre's rip-off was detected by the experimental use of data-mining techniques, which can detect telltale trends and anomalies in large databases. But these monitoring methods are only now being made part of the military's regular oversight of its credit-card purchases. So similar cases may not have come to light-though they soon could be unearthed as the technique is more widely used.

"The fraudulent transactions identified occurred during fiscal 2000 and 2001," said Cheryl Irwin, a Pentagon spokeswoman. "At that time, DOD did not have the tools necessary to screen all purchase-card transactions to identify those that carry a high risk for potentially inappropriate or fraudulent activity. The department has prototyped and is now expanding a data-mining capability to screen for and identify high-risk transactions for subsequent investigation to be exported across DOD."

Irwin added that "the DOD has the lowest level of fraud among large institutional organizations that use the purchase-card approach-[and] we are proud of that. ... These isolated incidents will be dealt with swiftly and prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

On June 17, Pierre was found guilty of stealing from the government. She received 14 months confinement, a bad-conduct discharge, a reduction in her enlisted grade (from E-6 to E-3) and a fine of $30,000, said Capt. Jeff Pool, spokesman for her employer, Marine Forces Reserve.

Most government credit cards can be used for "micro-purchases"--or acquisitions worth less than $2,500. But Pierre was authorized to buy "force-level" goods and services-meaning she was not limited by the usual ceiling as she spent money on big-ticket items for the command, Pool said.

"It is clear that the oversight mechanisms that were in place during that period broke down," Pool said. “The bottom line is the criminals were caught, tried and convicted, and Marine Forces Reserve has thoroughly reviewed and implemented a more stringent system of checks and balances to prevent something like this from happening in the future."

A June inspector general’s report mentioned Pierre’s case, but not her name, and called her breast lift “surgical enhancements.” The report said Pierre's spending was a fraction of the $5 million in "potentially fraudulent or inappropriate transactions" uncovered by data mining.

The inspector general, the General Accounting Office and news organizations have highlighted a systemic lack of management control over how the credit cards are used in the Defense Department. The inspector general’s June report says full implementation of solutions planned by the Pentagon “should assist in reducing the number of questionable purchase-card transactions. …”

The August 11 issue of Defense Week will carry a fuller examination of this topic.

[SLB]

The August 11 issue of Defense Week will carry a fuller examination of this topic.

I wonder if she is any fuller now.

Let's keep it clean and see if the thread lasts at least a day or two.

[azhenfud]

This is a fine example of top heavy government spending.

[csvset]

used her Pentagon plastic to rack up

Huh-huh. He said plastic & rack... Huh-huh...

[SLB]

FYI

[goldstategop]

It gives a whole new meaning to the expression "charge it with plastic." ;-)

[mattdono]

Pierre's rip-off was detected by the experimental use of data-mining techniques, which can detect telltale trends and anomalies in large databases.

Experimental? There is nothing experimental about data-mining techniques. It is frightening that our government (which is supposed to have the capability to listen to every conversation on phone, IM, email, etc.) is "experimenting" with data-mining techniques. It is even more unsettling that this SSgt. would do something like this. She is a total embarrassment of a human being and NOT what any Marine I know stands for.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Glad they caught this boob(s).

[Gringo1]

She just wanted to be all that she could be.


(yeah, I know, it's an Army saying and she is a marine)

[SLB]

I am certain there are some marines out there who would like to coment on the conduct of this NCO.

[mrsmith]

Putting better Marines on the front, and putting better fronts on the Marines.

[Taliesan]

I don't suppose they could stoop to the old method of having the credit-card statement reviewed by superiors, who might have found this fraud by asking "uh, what's an augmentation mammoplasty?"

No, the government couldn't be expected to control fraud by actually looking at the bill. They needed DATA MINING.

[You Dirty Rats]

First there were Marines that couldn't keep up with Dubya when he jogged in Texas, and now this. What is going on with the Corps?!?

R. Lee Ermey for Commandant!

[11th Earl of Mar]

As taxpayers, we deserve to see pictures.

[DainBramage]

Government Teet Bump(s)

[toolbreaker]

She received 14 months confinement, a bad-conduct discharge, a reduction in her enlisted grade (from E-6 to E-3) and a fine...

Now an E-3 with the DoD but she has a perfect C!

[Rebelbase]

Government enlargement must stop.

[Joe Brower]

"Pierre's rip-off was detected by the experimental use of data-mining techniques"

Yes, the truth is inadvertently revealed here, in more ways than one. The government is indeed linking together consumer & private industry databases into one larger "middle tier" system, despite the supposed "de-funding" of TIA and the the like. Say one thing, do another. Gee, what a surprise.

Additionally, all that was really required to find this egregious embezzlement is to have some wet-ware READ the damn statements when they come in! It appears that "audit" isn't in these spendthrift's vocabulary.

Sure makes me want to pay my taxes... < /sarcasm>

[Flyer]

buy a car, a motorcycle, furniture, household goods--and a breast job

Does she get to keep the stolen goods?

[Fawnn]

...She is a total embarrassment of a human being and NOT what any Marine I know stands for.

"On June 17, Pierre was found guilty of stealing from the government. She received 14 months confinement, a bad-conduct discharge, a reduction in her enlisted grade (from E-6 to E-3) and a fine of $30,000, said Capt. Jeff Pool, spokesman for her employer, Marine Forces Reserve."

But, she's still a Marine, right? That reads like she wasn't "fired" from her job because of her fraud!

[putupon]

Troop morale is important.

[mbynack]

When I was a contractor we strongly suspected that one of the military guys was abusing his card. The unit was very short of personnel, so not only was he the holder of the card - he was also in charge of auditing the account for mis-use.

[stainlessbanner]

Keep us abreast of the issue.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[mbynack]

But, she's still a Marine, right?

She received a Bad Conduct Discharge. She'll remain in the Marines until she finishes her jail time and then be thrown out.

[azhenfud]

"Staff Sergeant Sherry Pierre, an active duty Marine who worked for Marine Forces Reserve headquarters command in New Orleans, used her Pentagon plastic to rack up $129,709 in goods, services and upgrades to her physique, a command spokesman confirmed.....

On June 17, Pierre was found guilty of stealing from the government. She received 14 months confinement, a bad-conduct discharge, a reduction in her enlisted grade (from E-6 to E-3) and a fine of $30,000, said Capt. Jeff Pool, spokesman for her employer, Marine Forces Reserve.

$130,000 goods for $30,000. Justice served. < /sarcasm >

[arasina]

I don't suppose they could stoop to the old method of having the credit-card statement reviewed by superiors, who might have found this fraud by asking "uh, what's an augmentation mammoplasty?"

My thoughts exactly. Who approved the charges? Were they purposefully ignored or is the accounts payable person just extraordinarily stupid? That individual should be downgraded and fined as well for allowing this to happen.

[tom h]

"Woman Charged Breast Job On Pentagon Plastic"

Please, no pictures.

[Xenalyte]

Okay, all the jokes I've thought of were made before I got here. GREAT thread!

[xrp]

Private enterprise has it right. You carry a corporate AmEx which you then pay off with your money while waiting for your reimbursement from the corporation for your expenses, which are reviewed by payroll/finance.

[Marauder]

Udderly despicable.

[Terry Mross]

The Marines, Looking for a few good mammaries, uh, men.

[DainBramage]

After the surgery her husband was overheard whispering "Oooh yah"!

[azhenfud]

I suppose she had intended to milk them for more.

[Flyer]

Okay, all the jokes I've thought of were made before I got here.

C'mon, you have some of the best. . . uh. . . brains here. Think!

[Wolfie]

"From the Halls of Montezuma, To the Shores of Nipple-ey"

[Cronos]

The pentagon's building up it's WMD? The costs for kevlar for her chest armour must be expensive but the nme will take one look and go, don't point that at me, they might go off!

[DainBramage]

LOL

The Few, The Endowed, The Marines

[m1-lightning]

Please take me off your Just Damn ping list. I didn't realize there were so many dumb articles. Some of them do interest me but it's only about 1 in 5.

[VA_Gentleman]

My sentiments exactly. You beat me to it.

[metesky]

Well, one wouldn't want to deflate her, uh, ego, would one?

[Fawnn]

She received a Bad Conduct Discharge. She'll remain in the Marines until she finishes her jail time and then be thrown out.

Thanks for the info! (I probably skimmed the article too fast. For example, I'm still wondering if she gets to keep her "enhancements" and other purchases.) ;)

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I don't suppose they could stoop to the old method of having the credit-card statement reviewed by superiors, who might have found this fraud by asking "uh, what's an augmentation mammoplasty?"

You old Scrooge - I bet you root through you employees expense accounts and ask those silly and pointed questions about charges for a lap dance....

LOL

[Steel Wolf]

Woman Charged Breast Job On Pentagon Plastic"

Please, no pictures.

What do you mean 'no pictures'? That was taxpayer money she spent, I think we have a right to see exactly where our hard earned dollars are going.

Are we getting enough bang for the buck? I say, let the people decide.

[Spok]

A terrible waste of taxpayer money, with the possible exception of...are there any pictures available?
I mean, given a choice, would you rather pay for a limo for Hillary or buy boobs for BAMs?

[WestPacSailor]

Did the government repo the car, motorcycle, or the implants?

[Eaker]

Please, no pictures.

Sorry, no can do!!!

[VRWCmember]

Maybe she thought the improved rack could help her in her looking for a few good men.

[Taliesan]

I review my bosses' charges and ask THEM "What was this for?"

[azhenfud]

"...looking for a few good men."

She understood it as, "looking good for a few men".

[Bacon Man]

From the Halls of Montezuma, To the Shores of Nipple-ey

ROTFLMAO!