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ISCR Case 20-00858 — CASE

ISCR Case 20-00858denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 20-00858

deniedMar 28, 2023· Hon. Richard A. Cefola· hearing

Summary

A 26-year-old defense contractor employee was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline H (Drug Involvement). The denial stemmed from the applicant's admitted drug use and the willful falsification of his security clearance application.

Specifically, the applicant admitted to using marijuana from approximately January 2016 to May 2019, and purchasing it through intermediaries on two occasions between May 2016 and May 2018. He also admitted to using and purchasing hallucinogenic mushrooms once in March 2018, after submitting his SF-86 application that same month. Crucially, the applicant failed to disclose this drug involvement on his March 2018 SF-86.

The judge concluded that the applicant's conduct, including using controlled substances while having access to classified information and deliberately falsifying his application, raised significant doubts about his reliability and trustworthiness. The applicant did not present sufficient evidence of rehabilitation or a clear intent to abstain from future drug use, leading to the denial of his security clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant admitted to using marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms while granted access to classified information.
The applicant willfully falsified his security clearance application by failing to disclose his drug use.
The applicant did not provide sufficient evidence of rehabilitation or intent to abstain from drug use.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 25(a)appliedAny Substance Misuse
AG ¶ 25(c)appliedIllegal Possession of a Controlled Substance
AG ¶ 25(f)appliedIllegal Drug Use While Granted Access to Classified Information
AG ¶ 16(a)appliedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts
AG ¶ 16(b)appliedDeliberately Providing False or Misleading Information

Key Rule Quoted

“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedJun 30, 2020
Answer filedMay 5, 2021
Hearing heldOct 19, 2022scheduled as planned
Decision dateMar 28, 2023

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Willful Falsification of Security Clearance Application Under Guideline E
Importance of Demonstrating Rehabilitation and Intent to Abstain From Drug Use

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline E (Personal Conduct) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant failed to disclose his drug involvement on his March 2018 SF-86, which constituted willful falsification. The applicant admitted to the allegations but did not mitigate the concerns regarding his personal conduct. Consequently, the application for a security clearance was denied.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Conduct	Concealed Issue	Response	Disqualifying (¶16)	Mitigating applied (¶17)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant failed to disclose his drug involvement on his March 2018 SF-86.	Against Applicant	Omission or Failure to DiscloseFOUND DELIBERATE	Drug Involvement	Admitted	(a) deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification on a security form (c) credible adverse information across areas supporting a whole-person concern	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline E). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline H (Drug Involvement) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant used marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms after being granted access to classified information, which raised significant security concerns. The applicant admitted to the drug use but failed to mitigate the associated risks, leading to a denial of eligibility for a security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant admits that he used marijuana, with varying frequency, from about January of 2016 until about May of 2019.	Against Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Frequent	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia (f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position	—	—
1.e	Applicant admits that he purchased marijuana, through intermediaries, on two occasions during the two-year period from May of 2016 to May of 2018.	Against Applicant	Marijuana	Not Applicable	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia (f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position	—	—
1.f	Applicant admits that he used and purchased hallucinogenic mushrooms once, in March of 2018, after completing an SF-86 application in March of 2018.	Against Applicant	PsilocybinWHILE CLEARED	Experimental	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia (f) any illegal drug use while holding a clearance or sensitive position	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline H). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.

Decision text, by section

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

HEARING

APPEARANCES

______________ ______________ DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS In the matter of: ) ) ) ISCR Case No. 20-00858 ) ) Applicant for Security Clearance ) Appearances For Government: Tara Karoian, Esq., Department Counsel For Applicant: Shirin Asgari, Esq., Applicant’s Counsel March 28, 2023

STATEMENT OF CASE

CEFOLA, Richard A., Administrative Judge: Statement of the Case On March 14, 2018, Applicant submitted a security clearance application (SF- 86). On June 30, 2020, in accordance with DoD Directive 5220.6, as amended (Directive), the Department of Defense issued Applicant a Statement of Reasons (SOR) alleging facts that raise security concerns under Guidelines H and E. The action was taken under Executive Order (EO) 10865, Safeguarding Classified Information Within Industry (February 20, 1960), as amended; Department of Defense Directive 5220.6, Defense Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Review Program (January 2, 1992), as amended (Directive); and the adjudicative guidelines (AG) effective within the Department of Defense on June 8, 2017. Applicant answered the SOR in writing (Answer) on May 5, 2021 and requested a hearing before an administrative judge. The case was assigned to me on July 26, 2022. The Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) issued a Notice of Hearing on August 8, 2022. I convened the hearing as scheduled on October 19, 2022. The Government offered Government Exhibits (GXs) 1 through 3, which were admitted into

evidence without objection. Applicant testified on his own behalf, called one witness and offered Applicant Exhibits (AppXs) A~H, which were admitted into evidence without objection. DOHA received the transcript of the hearing (TR) on November 2, 2022. The record was left open until November 10, 2022, for the receipt of additional evidence. Nothing further was submitted. The record closed at that time.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Applicant admitted all the allegations in SOR ¶¶ 1.a.~1.f, and 2.a, with explanations. However, he denied certain aspects of SOR allegations ¶ 1.c, and ¶ 1.e. After a thorough and careful review of the pleadings, exhibits, and testimony, I make the following findings of fact. Applicant is a 26-year-old employee of a defense contractor. He has been employed with the defense contractor, off and on, since May of 2018, when he was an intern. He has held a security clearance, off and on, since May of 2018. He is single and has no children. (GX 1 at pages 7, and 25–26.) Guideline H - Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse 1.a. and 1.c. Applicant admits that he used marijuana, with varying frequency, from about January of 2016 until about May of 2019. (TR at page 26 line 23 to page 29 line 13, and at page 42 lines 21–25.) He also admits that he used marijuana while granted access to classified information, as an intern, from about July through August of 2018. (TR at page 31 line 2 to page 34 line 13, at page 50 lines 1–21, and at page 52 line 4 to page 53 line 10.) 1.b. and 1.e. Applicant admits that he purchased marijuana, through intermediaries, on two occasions during the two-year period from May of 2016 to May of 2018. He also purchased marijuana during the period March of 2018 to May of 2019, after completing an SF-86 application in March of 2018. (TR at page 31 line 2 to page 34 line 13, and at page 35 line 10 to page 38 line 8.) 1.d. and 1.f. Applicant admits that he used and purchased hallucinogenic mushrooms once, in March of 2018, after completing an SF-86 application in March of 2018. (TR at page 34 line 14 to page 35 line 9, and at page 36 lines 9–16.) Guideline E - Personal Conduct 2.a. In answer to “Section 23 – Illegal Use of Drugs . . .,” on his March 2018 SF- 86, Applicant failed to disclose his drug involvement, noted above. (GX 2 at pages 36–37.) Although he did disclose his usage on his subsequent July 2019 SF-86, I find this to be a willful falsification. (TR at page 36 line 17 to page 38 line 11, at page 53 lines 11–20, and GX 1 at pages 45–47.)

POLICIES

When evaluating an applicant’s suitability for national security eligibility, the administrative judge must consider the adjudicative guidelines. In addition to brief introductory explanations for each guideline, the adjudicative guidelines (AG) list potentially disqualifying conditions and mitigating conditions, which are to be used in evaluating an applicant’s national security eligibility. These guidelines are not inflexible rules of law. Instead, recognizing the complexities of human behavior, these guidelines are applied in conjunction with the factors listed in AG ¶ 2 describing the adjudicative process. The administrative judge’s overarching adjudicative goal is a fair, impartial, and commonsense decision. The entire process is a conscientious scrutiny of applicable guidelines in the context of a number of variables known as the whole-person concept. The administrative judge must consider all available, reliable information about the person, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, in making a decision. The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration. AG ¶ 2(b) requires that “[a]ny doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the national security.” In reaching this decision, I have drawn only those conclusions that are reasonable, logical, and based on the evidence contained in the record. I have not drawn inferences based on mere speculation or conjecture. Directive ¶ E3.1.14, requires the Government to present evidence to establish controverted facts alleged in the SOR. Under Directive ¶ E3.1.15, an “applicant is responsible for presenting witnesses and other evidence to rebut, explain, extenuate, or mitigate facts admitted by the applicant or proven by Department Counsel, and has the ultimate burden of persuasion as to obtaining a favorable clearance decision.” A person applying for national security eligibility seeks to enter into a fiduciary relationship with the Government predicated upon trust and confidence. This relationship transcends normal duty hours and endures throughout off-duty hours. The Government reposes a high degree of trust and confidence in individuals to whom it grants national security eligibility. Decisions include, by necessity, consideration of the possible risk the applicant may deliberately or inadvertently fail to protect or safeguard classified information. Such decisions entail a certain degree of legally permissible extrapolation as to potential, rather than actual, risk of compromise of classified or sensitive information. Finally, as emphasized in Section 7 of Executive Order 10865, “[a]ny determination under this order adverse to an applicant shall be a determination in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned.” See also Executive Order 12968, Section 3.1(b) (listing multiple prerequisites for access to classified or sensitive information.)

ANALYSIS

Guideline H - Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse The security concern relating to the guideline for Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse is set forth at AG ¶ 24: The illegal use of controlled substances, to include the misuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and the use of other substances that cause physical or mental impairment or are used in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose can raise questions about an individual's reliability and trustworthiness, both because such behavior may lead to physical or psychological impairment and because it raises questions about a person's ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules, and regulations. Controlled substance means any "controlled substance" as defined in 21 U.S.C. 802. Substance misuse is the generic term adopted in this guideline to describe any of the behaviors listed above. The guideline at AG ¶ 25 contains seven conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying. Three conditions are established: (a) any substance misuse (see above definition); (c) illegal possession of a controlled substance, including cultivation, processing, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or possession of drug paraphernalia; and (f) any illegal drug use while granted access to classified information or holding a sensitive position. Appellant used marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms, after being granted access to classified information. Therefore, AG ¶ 25 (a), (c), and (f) are established. The guideline at AG ¶ 26 contains four conditions that could mitigate security concerns. Two conditions may be applicable: (a) the behavior happened so long ago, was so infrequent, or happened under such circumstances that it is unlikely to recur or does not cast doubt on the individual's current reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment; and (b) the individual acknowledges his or her drug involvement and substance misuse, provides evidence of actions taken to overcome this problem, and has established a pattern of abstinence, including, but not limited to: (1) disassociation from drug-using associates and contacts;

(2) changing or avoiding the environment where drugs were used; and (3) providing a signed statement of intent to abstain from all drug involvement and substance misuse, acknowledging that any future involvement or misuse is grounds for revocation of national security eligibility. None of these apply. Although drug involvement occurred more than three years prior to his hearing, he has not provided a signed statement of intent as to future usage, and I can not ignore the fact that his usage was after being granted access to classified information. Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse is found against Applicant. Guideline E - Personal Conduct The security concern relating to the guideline for Personal Conduct is set out in AG ¶ 15: Conduct involving questionable judgment, lack of candor, dishonesty, or unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations can raise questions about an individual's reliability, trustworthiness, and ability to protect classified or sensitive information. Of special interest is any failure to cooperate or provide truthful and candid answers during national security investigative or adjudicative processes. The following will normally result in an unfavorable national security eligibility determination, security clearance action, or cancellation of further processing for national security eligibility: (a) refusal, or failure without reasonable cause, to undergo or cooperate with security processing, including but not limited to meeting with a security investigator for subject interview, completing security forms or releases, cooperation with medical or psychological evaluation, or polygraph examination, if authorized and required; and (b) refusal to provide full, frank, and truthful answers to lawful questions of investigators, security officials, or other official representatives in connection with a personnel security or trustworthiness determination. The guideline notes several conditions that could raise security concerns under AG ¶ 16. Two are potentially applicable in this case: (a) deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification of relevant facts from any personnel security questionnaire, personal history statement, or similar form used to conduct investigations, determine employment

qualifications, award benefits or status, determine national security eligibility or trustworthiness, or award fiduciary responsibilities; and (b) deliberately providing false or misleading information; or concealing or omitting information, concerning relevant facts to an employer, investigator, security official, competent medical or mental health professional involved in making a recommendation relevant to a national security eligibility determination, or other official government representative. Applicant falsified his March 2018 SF-86. The evidence is sufficient to raise these disqualifying conditions. AG ¶ 17 provides conditions that could mitigate security concerns. I considered all of the mitigating conditions under AG ¶ 17 including: (a) the individual made prompt, good-faith efforts to correct the omission, concealment, or falsification before being confronted with the facts; and (b) the refusal or failure to cooperate, omission, or concealment was caused or significantly contributed to by advice of legal counsel or of a person with professional responsibilities for advising or instructing the individual specifically concerning security processes. Upon being made aware of the requirement to cooperate or provide the information, the individual cooperated fully and truthfully. None of these apply. Applicant did not correct his willful falsification until 16 months later when he executed his July 2019 SF-86. Personal Conduct is found against Applicant.

WHOLE PERSON CONCEPT

Under the whole-person concept, the administrative judge must evaluate an applicant’s national security eligibility by considering the totality of the applicant’s conduct and all relevant circumstances. The administrative judge should consider the nine adjudicative process factors listed at AG ¶ 2(d): (1) the nature, extent, and seriousness of the conduct; (2) the circumstances surrounding the conduct, to include knowledgeable participation; (3) the frequency and recency of the conduct; (4) the individual’s age and maturity at the time of the conduct; (5) the extent to which participation is voluntary; (6) the presence or absence of rehabilitation and other permanent behavioral changes; (7) the motivation for the conduct; (8) the potential for pressure, coercion, exploitation, or duress; and (9) the likelihood of continuation or recurrence.

________________________ According to AG ¶ 2(c), the ultimate determination of whether to grant national security eligibility must be an overall commonsense judgment based upon careful consideration of the applicable guidelines and the whole-person concept. I considered the potentially disqualifying and mitigating conditions in light of all facts and circumstances surrounding this case. I have incorporated my comments under Guidelines H and E in my whole-person analysis. Some of the factors in AG ¶ 2(d) were addressed under those guidelines, but some warrant additional comment. Applicant is well respected by those who know him in his workplace and in his community. (TR at page 15 line 18 to page 25 line 8, and AppXs A, D and G.) However, overall, the record evidence leaves me with questions or doubts as to Applicant’s eligibility and suitability for a security clearance. For all these reasons, I conclude Applicant failed to mitigate the Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse, and Personal Conduct security concerns.

FORMAL FINDINGS

Formal findings for or against Applicant on the allegations set forth in the SOR, as required by ¶ E3.1.25 of the Directive, are: Paragraph 1, Guideline H: AGAINST APPLICANT Subparagraphs 1.a~1.f: Against Applicant Paragraph 1, Guideline E: AGAINST APPLICANT Subparagraph 2.a: Against Applicant

CONCLUSION

In light of all of the circumstances presented by the record in this case, it is not clearly consistent with the national interest to grant Applicant eligibility for a security clearance. Eligibility for access to classified information is denied. Richard A. Cefola Administrative Judge