CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 21-01244 — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case 21-01244

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date1/24/2023
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Robert E. Coacher
Government Counsel: Karen A. Moreno-Sayles
Case Summary
Applicant was a 45-year-old supply technician employed by a federal contractor, seeking a security clearance. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) citing security concerns under Guideline F, related to financial considerations. The SOR detailed 15 delinquent accounts totaling approximately $52,752, which included credit card debts, consumer debts, a time-share debt, and medical debts.
During the proceedings, Applicant admitted to all allegations in the SOR. He explained that his financial difficulties began after being laid off in 2017, leading to a significant reduction in income. Although he developed a plan to address his debts and had made some payments on a few accounts, the majority of the debts remained unresolved. Applicant's wife earned a substantial income, but they maintained separate finances, and he acknowledged that most of the debts were his responsibility.
The administrative judge ruled against Applicant, concluding that he had not sufficiently mitigated the financial concerns. The judge noted that the ongoing nature of the debts and the lack of comprehensive financial counseling or resolution for the majority of the accounts raised significant doubts about Applicant's reliability and trustworthiness, ultimately denying his eligibility for access to classified information.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline FFinancial Considerations · Against Applicant
Similar decisions
Other decisions whose allegations read most like this one. Descriptive similarity of the allegations only — not a prediction.
Finding similar decisions…

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 21-01244

deniedJan 24, 2023· Hon. Robert E. Coacher· hearing

Summary

A 45-year-old federal contractor was denied a security clearance under Guideline F, Financial Considerations, due to unresolved financial issues. The Statement of Reasons detailed 15 delinquent accounts totaling approximately $52,752. These included a time-share debt of $25,747 delinquent since January 2017, and several consumer debts, such as $2,666, $2,046, $1,935, $1,376, $683, and $662, with delinquency dates ranging from November 2018 to December 2019. The applicant also had medical debts totaling $211, $164, $14, and $10, which he claimed to have paid directly.

While some debts were resolved—a $1,251 consumer debt in October 2021, a $300 consumer debt in April 2022, and a $919 consumer debt in March 2021—the majority remained unpaid. One consumer debt of $2,046 was being resolved via a payment plan.

The denial was based on the applicant's history of financial difficulties dating back to 2017, with eleven of the 15 delinquent debts, totaling approximately $52,000, remaining unpaid. The applicant did not provide evidence of financial counseling or a meaningful track record of debt management, leading the judge to conclude that the financial security concerns were not mitigated. Eligibility for access to classified information was therefore denied.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant has a history of financial difficulties dating back to 2017.
Eleven of the 15 delinquent debts remain unpaid, totaling approximately $52,000.
The applicant did not provide evidence of financial counseling or a meaningful track record of debt management.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability to Satisfy Debts
AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations

Mitigating

AG ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions Beyond the Person's ControlThe applicant's financial difficulties were exacerbated by unemployment and underemployment.
AG ¶ 20(d)appliedGood-faith Effort to Repay DebtsThe applicant made payments on some debts but failed to address the majority.

Key Rule Quoted

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

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedAug 6, 2021
Answer filedAug 6, 2021
Hearing heldSep 19, 2022via video teleconferencing
Decision dateJan 24, 2023

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Unresolved Financial Issues Under Guideline F
Importance of Demonstrating a Meaningful Track Record of Debt Management
Consideration of Financial Circumstances Beyond the Applicant's Control in Security Clearance Decisions.

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 F · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found multiple financial concerns under Guideline F, including numerous delinquent consumer debts and medical debts. While some debts were resolved, the majority remained unpaid, leading to a decision against the applicant's eligibility for a security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶19)	Mitigating applied (¶20)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant has 15 delinquent accounts totaling approximately $52,752. $52,752	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.b	Applicant has a consumer debt of $2,666 that became delinquent in November 2018. $2,666	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.c	Applicant has a consumer debt of $2,046 that became delinquent in November 2018 and is being resolved with a payment plan. $2,046	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	Documented Payment Plan with Creditor
1.d	Applicant has a consumer debt of $1,935 that became delinquent in May 2019. $1,935	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.e	Applicant has a consumer debt of $1,376 that became delinquent in November 2018. $1,376	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.f	Applicant resolved a consumer debt of $1,251 in October 2021. $1,251	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Paid in Full
1.g	Applicant has a consumer debt of $683 that became delinquent in December 2019. $683	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.h	Applicant has a consumer debt of $662 that became delinquent in December 2018. $662	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.i	Applicant has medical debts totaling $211 that he claims to have paid directly to the providers. $211	Against Applicant	Medical Debt	Admitted	—	—	—
1.j	Applicant has medical debts totaling $164 that he claims to have paid directly to the providers. $164	Against Applicant	Medical Debt	Admitted	—	—	—
1.k	Applicant has medical debts totaling $14 that he claims to have paid directly to the providers. $14	Against Applicant	Medical Debt	Admitted	—	—	—
1.l	Applicant has medical debts totaling $10 that he claims to have paid directly to the providers. $10	Against Applicant	Medical Debt	Admitted	—	—	—
1.m	Applicant resolved a consumer debt of $300 in April 2022. $300	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Paid in Full
1.n	Applicant has a time-share debt of $25,747 that became delinquent in January 2017. $25,747	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.o	Applicant resolved a consumer debt of $919 in March 2021. $919	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Paid in Full

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

Full decision

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