A new watchdog report revealed this week that U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has conducted dozens of unauthorized undercover investigations into illicit cigarette sales, misused $162 million in profits, and lost track of at least 420 million cigarettes.
The investigation covered operations and records between 2006 and 2011. The most disturbing allegation is the use of “churning investigations,” operations used to pay for ATF expenses.
Also detailed in the report is that ATF officials allowed a tobacco distributor (who was a confidential informant) to keep $4.9 million in profits from cigarette sales to criminal suspects. Those missing 420 million cigarettes were worth $127 million.
Yet, there is no reference to criminal investigations or a single act of discipline. Indeed, the assumption appears to be that any such missing money or property had to be innocent. This all could very well be innocent but the amount of misused money or missing cigarettes is staggering. ATF spokeswoman Ginger Colbrun however insisted “only 447,218 cartons that were not reconciled because of insufficient documentation.” Only 447,218 cartons? Is that the standard for the ATF, keep missing property below half a million items? That short of sounds like “well, its close enough for jazz . . . or the ATF.”
Isn’t that what they prosecuted Whitey Bulger for……eventually…. After they said the Agent was rogue….band convicted him too….
There is a federal prison in east Texas where they incarcerate people that were working on government authority…. When $hit hit the fan…. There was nothing in writing…. They do the time….
Blouise,
To use green language, “One lives to be of service.”
John Redman,
**
“What about this story brought out so many defenders of government operations? I hold that nearly all of its personnel are control freaks who are varying degrees of psychopaths/sociopaths. My mantra was written by Jonathon Edwards: You can’t even run your own life, I’ll be damned if you’ll run mine. Defenders of earthly government are cowards and ideal products of the public education “system (cesspool)”. Congress (a certain sinkhole of criminals, perverts, the aforementioned control freaks, terrorists) creates the crimes out of previous non-harmful freedoms, exempts itself when possible and sheeple (the defenders) can’t be bothered to defend liberty. You want someone to blame, it’s you of the cognitive dissonance class especially those thugs that gravitate to “law enforcement”. What a bunch of frightened moral midgets they happen to be but they are the Praetorian Guard that the judges and legislators need to defend themselves from the consequences of their criminal acts. Scum, the lot of you (control freaks and their cowardly defenders) who will not fare well at your Judgment.”
**
That’s an awful lot to get on a Tshirt. How about “I love pizza”?
I’m not quite clear on this. Are you subtly indicating disapproval of some of the commenters on this thread? I detect a subtle soupcon of umbrage.
“Sheeple”?
As in “Wake up, sheeple”?
The only folks I read who use that phrase, are wolves that want me to fall asleep. Reading a lot of conspiracy rants, lately?
Feeling irritable this morning, are we?
Gene,
Succinct and well said.
I stand on the Constitution which created a secular form of government specifically to keep your choice in religion out of my life unless I choose to adopt it. God doesn’t grant you liberty. You have to fight for it, often against people who invoke that same God in efforts to deprive you of it.
Opposition to tyranny is obedience to God. Obedience to tyranny is opposition to God. Where do YOU stand? Just sayin’
John Boanerges pain in the ass Redman
What about this story brought out so many defenders of government operations? I hold that nearly all of its personnel are control freaks who are varying degrees of psychopaths/sociopaths. My mantra was written by Jonathon Edwards: You can’t even run your own life, I’ll be damned if you’ll run mine. Defenders of earthly government are cowards and ideal products of the public education “system (cesspool)”. Congress (a certain sinkhole of criminals, perverts, the aforementioned control freaks, terrorists) creates the crimes out of previous non-harmful freedoms, exempts itself when possible and sheeple (the defenders) can’t be bothered to defend liberty. You want someone to blame, it’s you of the cognitive dissonance class especially those thugs that gravitate to “law enforcement”. What a bunch of frightened moral midgets they happen to be but they are the Praetorian Guard that the judges and legislators need to defend themselves from the consequences of their criminal acts. Scum, the lot of you (control freaks and their cowardly defenders) who will not fare well at your Judgment.
gbk,
I’m getting trounced this round so I’ll take your good luck wishes and hope to do better next round.
Why do they sell tobacco in stores? “Smoke em if ya gottem”, John Wayne says to the troops as they slump to the ground for a rest in the jungle in Nam while the Cong smell them out because of the odor of the smoke and “smoke em”. We needed an ATF in Nam.
Blouise,
Good luck. Sounds like you don’t need it though!
gbk,
🙂 … I’m off to play Scrabble
Blouise,
I’m not good at metaphors though; so I might have missed something, somewhere; out there.
Blouise,
Yeah, or so it’s said.
gbk,
Just a bit of water takes care of them. 😉
Blouise,
“The worm has turned. (Shakespeare)”
Also Herbert — much later of course — but capturing the hubris of empire that presents itself.
Blouise, Kauten, Lotta.
Bless you.