White House, NSA staff said to be buyers from online diploma mill

[mrbowler]

This has not been proven, and I'm sure the timing was planned...just throws another layer of dishonesty within the ranks. Sure keeping the lawyers busy(employed).

White House, NSA staff said to be buyers from online diploma mill:
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SPOKANE, Wash. -- A White House staff member and National Security Agency employees were among 6,000 people who bought bogus online college degrees from a diploma mill, a federal judge has been told.

Others who paid thousands of dollars for phony diplomas in the operation, which used names such as St. Regis University, James Monroe University and Robertstown University, include a senior State Department employee in Kuwait and a Department of Justice employee in Spokane, defense lawyer Peter S. Schweda said Wednesday.

None of the federal officials was identified during the status conference for five defendants in U.S. District Court, nor would lawyers for either side provide any of their names outside the courtroom, The Spokesman-Review reported Thursday.

"We're not going to disclose who bought these degrees until after the trial is under way," U.S. Attorney James A. McDevitt told the newspaper.

Material provided to the defense by the Justice Department shows at least 135 government employees, also including some from the Department of Health and Human Services, bought college or university degrees to use in seeking promotions or pay raises, Schweda said.

The defense team also is seeking access to an Office of Personnel Management report which reportedly provides more detail on federal employees who are believed to have purchased the bogus degrees to enhance their portfolios.

The White House employee who reportedly bought a degree is the subject of a separate investigation, Schweda said.

The latest twist in the criminal case came Wednesday, a day after Kenneth Wade Pearson, 31, webmaster for the operation, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and receipt of child pornography.

Pearson said he would provide evidence and testify against Dixie E. and Stephen K. Randock Sr. of Colbert, described by government investigators as the ringleaders, making him the third of eight defendants to reach plea agreements in the case.

Pearson, who likely faces three to five years in prison, remained free on a $10,000 bond he posted after being indicted in January. Judge Lonnie R. Suko postponed his sentencing until December 2007, two months after the Randocks and three others are scheduled to go on trial.

The Randocks also remain free on bail.

More than 10,000 sexually explicit images of children were found in four computers used by the Spokane-based operation, government lawyers said, but only Pearson was named in pornography charges.

The defendants are charged with conspiring to commit wire and mail fraud and laundering almost $2 million in diploma mill receipts in 2002-05.

As webmaster, Pearson set up and maintained as many as 125 Web sites for sales of fraudulent college and high school degrees worldwide, investigators wrote in court filings.

Investigators also have asserted that more than $43,000 in bribes were paid to three Liberian diplomats who also have not been identified, including one handoff that was videotaped by Secret Service agents at a hotel in Washington, D.C. Government lawyers have said diplomatic immunity precludes charges against the diplomats.

The Liberian "Board of Education" offered accreditation for the online diploma mills in exchange for the bribes, according to court filings.

About 40 percent of the estimated 6,000 phony college degrees that were sold with that accreditation went to foreign residents seeking entry into the United States, investigators wrote in court filings.

A task force of state and federal agents served search warrants in August 2005 after investigators found many of the phony degrees were sold in Saudi Arabia, raising national security concerns.

[katlnhats]

Hi,

This is off-topic, but the owner and founder of Young Living Corp., bought his online diploma, he's not a Dr., he knows nothing about what he's doing and it's been proven, so anything's possible. They are surely easy enough to buy. I wouldn't be surprised. Did you know our son's a Minister? He bought it off the net as a joke, and has never used it. But they're out there.

Kat

[WhaddaDeal006]

Interesting, I had not heard about this.

Now there are some online universities that (I believe) you don't have to do much to get your degree.......because you prove your knowledge from work experience, etc. Are those separate from these and they are still "legal" online universities? Anyone know?

[mrbowler]

I've watched were you not only can get these degrees, but you can pay a certain amount to these places, and they man a phone to verify your information in case a potential employer checks the background. Pretty Slick!

Did a brief google search-couple years old, but you get the idea.

Is That a Real Diploma on Your Wall?
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A licensed architect since 1986, Stephen Corbin always wanted a college degree, saying the lack of a diploma to hang on his wall left him with "an empty feeling."

Between running his own company -- which specializes in public school projects -- and raising a family, the Bakersfield, Calif., resident never had time to polish off his course work. Instead he called a telephone number at the bottom of an e-mail advertisement offering degrees from a European university based on "life experience."

But the University of San Moritz, which granted him a bachelor's degree in architecture and a master's degree in business administration, is one of numerous names used by a worldwide Internet diploma mill that sells phony diplomas, trumped-up transcripts and ersatz honors such as summa cum laude.

"We went through a discussion of what I had done in my profession, running a business and everything like that," Corbin said. "And they said, 'Oh, yeah, you qualify.'"

His degrees cost him $500 in a package deal. The "university" also offered him a doctorate, but that "would have been pushing it too much." He did allow San Moritz to backdate his architecture degree to 1985 to make it seem as if he had gotten it just before he received his license.

Like its low-tech predecessors that advertised on matchbook covers, the University of San Moritz -- which also operates as Glencullen University and the University of Wexford -- and numerous other regal-sounding diploma mills prey on ego and greed. College graduates earn 62 percent more than nongraduates, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

But unlike traditional diploma mills, the online versions exploit the wide reach of the Internet to send millions of e-mail advertisements promising degrees without "tests, classes, books or interviews. ... No one is turned down."

The history of so-called universities that sell degrees without any education or true evaluation of experience goes back at least to the 19th century, said John Bear, coauthor of Bear's Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed, 2000), which includes information on diploma mills operating on the Internet.

"Nothing has much changed, except that on the Internet it's so much easier," he said. "You can set up a site in an hour and send out e-mails. Then you just need a printing press."

Question of Legitamacy
Former FBI agent Allen Ezell, who conducts seminars for college registrars on spotting phony transfer credits, scoffed at the notion that a prospective degree buyer could think the "universities" are legitimate.

"If you negotiate for your grade-point average, get a degree backdated and can pay extra for honors, I think your alma mater is of questionable veracity," he said.

But the digital facade is comforting to prospective degree buyers, Bear said. "In a few cases (customers) have convinced themselves the degree is legitimate."

They go so far as to list the degrees on personal and work Web pages. Among them: a congressional candidate in Northern California, a rabbi who does family counseling in the San Fernando Valley, an assistant director of financial aid at Occidental College and a student counselor/psychology teacher at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif.

Dale Gouph, head of the international unit of the American Assn. of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, said digital diploma mills do not evaluate life experience in granting degrees. "I'm willing to bet that every applicant, once the fee has been paid, becomes a graduate," he said.

E-mails From Romania
The global reach of the Internet allows the fake schools to hide behind a complex multinational operation. "The e-mails emanate from Romania, the printing presses are in Jerusalem and wire transfers go to London," said Ezell, the former FBI agent. In a recent College & University Journal article, he traced the history of the Glencullen group to 1997.

Attempts to reach the universities were unsuccessful. Calls to the telephone numbers on the Glencullen and Wexford sites led to identical recorded messages, even though the schools are supposedly in different countries. There was no response to requests for interviews.

Swiss officials doubted Wexford was a real school. The Rectors Conference of Swiss Universities, which acts as a liaison between the government and universities, had no record of Wexford's existence until 2001, when it began receiving inquiries about the school's legitimacy.

"I am sure they never offered classes," said Thomas Tschumperlin, director of admissions at the University of Zurich. "It is a business selling degree packages." Tschumperlin visited the street address given by Wexford, finding "a business building, with a shoe and a watch store at street level." There was no mention of any school in the building directory. Campus pictures on the Wexford site had been from the Web pages of the University of Teesside. Architect Corbin said he regretted buying a San Moritz degree. "I can tell you in retrospect I shouldn't have done it," he said. "I thought maybe it would be good for business, but it has not been worth the paper it's printed on." If anyone should know how the education system is supposed to work, it is Frank Reyes, assistant director of financial aid at Occidental College. On Occidental's site, he claimed a bachelor's degree from Glencullen. However, the reference has been removed from the site. Reyes acknowledged buying the degree, but said he believed the claims that he could get it based on his experience and classes he had taken at a computer school. Reyes said he was "stunned" to hear that Glencullen didn't exist. "I had even thought about taking a trip next year to visit my alma mater."

[mrbowler]

GAO Testimony 2004: Federal Employees Have Obtained Degrees from Diploma Mills and Other Unaccredited Schools, Some at Government Expense

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Employees #1, #2, and #3 are managers in the Office of Emergency Operations at NNSA and have “Q” level security clearances. Employee #1, who was hired at NNSA in 2002, paid $5,000 for a masters degree in 1996from LaSalle University, an unaccredited school that has been found tohave made false claims of accreditation.5This individual obtained thedegree in 1996 while in the Air Force in order to advance his career. He informed us that while serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, he was told that he would need a master’s degree in order to be considered forpromotion to colonel. He contacted LaSalle University and obtained a degree based on life experience, courses he had taken previously in the military, and courses for which he read books and wrote papers. Employee #1 told us that he did not attend classes or take any tests, his master’s
degree from LaSalle was a “joke,” and he received it after paying approximately $5,000.
Employee #2, hired at NNSA in 2000, received a bachelor’s degree in 1992 from Chadwick University, an unaccredited school. Employee #2 never attended classes but obtained the degree based on 30 credits for lifeexperience, several college level examination program tests, and nine correspondence courses. The employee reported reading a book, writing a paper, and taking a final exam for each of the nine courses. This is the only postsecondary education this employee has obtained. Although agency personnel records indicate that this individual is a candidate for a master’sdegree program at an unaccredited foreign school, Employee #2 has nevercompleted any courses for such a degree.Employee #3, hired at NNSA in 2000, received a PhD in engineering administration in 1985 from Columbia Pacific University, an unaccredited school. He performed course work required for a PhD at GeorgeWashington University, a fully accredited school, but did not complete a dissertation.
Employee #3 claims to have completed a dissertation forColumbia Pacific but did not attend classes or complete any coursework atthat school. In December 1999, the Marin County Superior Court ordered Columbia Pacific University to cease operations within California. The court determined that Columbia Pacific failed to meet variousrequirements for issuing PhD degrees, awarded excessive credit based on life experience, and failed to employ duly qualified staff.Employee #4 is a Senior Executive Service official at DOT. Employee #4 received a Bachelor of Science degree within 6 to 8 months from Kent College, an unaccredited school. Kent waived some credits whileEmployee #4 completed three research papers and paid $3,500 for the degree. In 1992, Employee #4 listed the degree from Kent College on his application for a master’s degree program at an accredited school. Officials at the school to which he applied did not identify Kent as an unaccredited school with a history of awarding degrees based on negligible work. The accredited school accepted
Employee #4 into its master’s program, and he completed it.
Employee #5 was an employee in the Senior Executive Service at DHS at the time of our interview but has since resigned. This employee received a series of degrees based on negligible work from unaccredited HamiltonUniversity while working at the Department of Labor (DOL) in varioussenior capacities. Between March and June 2000, this individual received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree based on prior training and other life and work experience. Subsequently, in March 2001, Employee #5 received a PhD in computer information systems from Hamilton. This individual leftDOL and began working at DHS in a Senior Executive Service position inApril 2003. A security clearance update, initiated while the employee was still at DOL but completed after the employee joined DHS, led to the discovery of the degrees from Hamilton.

[lynxx]

Originally Posted by mrbowler

GAO Testimony 2004: Federal Employees Have Obtained Degrees from Diploma Mills and Other Unaccredited Schools, Some at Government Expense

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

Employees #1, #2, and #3 are managers in the Office of Emergency Operations at NNSA and have “Q” level security clearances. Employee #1, who was hired at NNSA in 2002, paid $5,000 for a masters degree in 1996from LaSalle University, an unaccredited school that has been found tohave made false claims of accreditation.5This individual obtained thedegree in 1996 while in the Air Force in order to advance his career. He informed us that while serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, he was told that he would need a master’s degree in order to be considered forpromotion to colonel. He contacted LaSalle University and obtained a degree based on life experience, courses he had taken previously in the military, and courses for which he read books and wrote papers. Employee #1 told us that he did not attend classes or take any tests, his master’s
degree from LaSalle was a “joke,” and he received it after paying approximately $5,000.
Employee #2, hired at NNSA in 2000, received a bachelor’s degree in 1992 from Chadwick University, an unaccredited school. Employee #2 never attended classes but obtained the degree based on 30 credits for lifeexperience, several college level examination program tests, and nine correspondence courses. The employee reported reading a book, writing a paper, and taking a final exam for each of the nine courses. This is the only postsecondary education this employee has obtained. Although agency personnel records indicate that this individual is a candidate for a master’sdegree program at an unaccredited foreign school, Employee #2 has nevercompleted any courses for such a degree.Employee #3, hired at NNSA in 2000, received a PhD in engineering administration in 1985 from Columbia Pacific University, an unaccredited school. He performed course work required for a PhD at GeorgeWashington University, a fully accredited school, but did not complete a dissertation.
Employee #3 claims to have completed a dissertation forColumbia Pacific but did not attend classes or complete any coursework atthat school. In December 1999, the Marin County Superior Court ordered Columbia Pacific University to cease operations within California. The court determined that Columbia Pacific failed to meet variousrequirements for issuing PhD degrees, awarded excessive credit based on life experience, and failed to employ duly qualified staff.Employee #4 is a Senior Executive Service official at DOT. Employee #4 received a Bachelor of Science degree within 6 to 8 months from Kent College, an unaccredited school. Kent waived some credits whileEmployee #4 completed three research papers and paid $3,500 for the degree. In 1992, Employee #4 listed the degree from Kent College on his application for a master’s degree program at an accredited school. Officials at the school to which he applied did not identify Kent as an unaccredited school with a history of awarding degrees based on negligible work. The accredited school accepted
Employee #4 into its master’s program, and he completed it.
Employee #5 was an employee in the Senior Executive Service at DHS at the time of our interview but has since resigned. This employee received a series of degrees based on negligible work from unaccredited HamiltonUniversity while working at the Department of Labor (DOL) in varioussenior capacities. Between March and June 2000, this individual received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree based on prior training and other life and work experience. Subsequently, in March 2001, Employee #5 received a PhD in computer information systems from Hamilton. This individual leftDOL and began working at DHS in a Senior Executive Service position inApril 2003. A security clearance update, initiated while the employee was still at DOL but completed after the employee joined DHS, led to the discovery of the degrees from Hamilton.

WHO ARE THESE GOV EMPLOYEES? OR IS THIS JUST ANOTHER "COVER UP?" WHERE CAN WE SEE A LIST OF THEIR NAMES?
ANYONE HAVE A URL TO SEE THEM, OR DOES ANYONE HAVE CONTACTS TO GET THE LIST? I AM SURE WE'D ALL LOVE TO SEE IT PRINTED HERE.

[mrbowler]

Originally Posted by lynxx

WHO ARE THESE GOV EMPLOYEES? OR IS THIS JUST ANOTHER "COVER UP?" WHERE CAN WE SEE A LIST OF THEIR NAMES?
ANYONE HAVE A URL TO SEE THEM, OR DOES ANYONE HAVE CONTACTS TO GET THE LIST? I AM SURE WE'D ALL LOVE TO SEE IT PRINTED HERE.

I believe #4 is/was Daniel P. Matthews chief information officer for Dept. of Transportation oversees the Transportation Security Adm. $3,500 bachelor degree from Kent College in Mandeville,Louisiana. James A. Mcdevitt said that names would not be released until trial.

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"James A. McDevitt was appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate on November 30, 2001"

"Jim is a Vietnam and Gulf War veteran and, following a 35-year career of active and reserve duty, he retired as Brigadier General in the Washington Air National Guard"

[mrbowler]

Just a FYI:

Delayed until Oct. 1, 2007

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"Names of 135 federal employees who allegedly bought fake diplomas from an outfit in the western United States will not be revealed for at least one year, if ever, according to a U.S attorney's office"

[bsdwork]

This kind of paper forgery is not as uncommon as it may seem. I know that sometimes we make ourselves a [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] to put it on our fireplace for friends to see it or maybe just for the fun of it, but this is outrageous.