CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 23-02830 — CASE

DOHA Record Explorer

ISCR Case 23-02830

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

Case Profile
Decision Date5/6/2025
Statusgranted
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Judge: Edward W. Loughran
Government Counsel: Tara R. Karoian
Applicant's Counsel: Grant Couch
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 32-year-old employee of a defense contractor who applied for a security clearance. The Department of Defense issued a Statement of Reasons citing security concerns under Guidelines E (personal conduct), H (drug involvement and substance misuse), and J (criminal conduct). The core allegations included the applicant's history of illegal drug use, which encompassed substances such as marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, LSD, and hallucinogenic mushrooms.
During the proceedings, the applicant admitted to a history of drug use but asserted that he had not used any illegal drugs since March 2022. He explained that he had distanced himself from drug-using friends and completed several online substance abuse courses. The applicant expressed regret for his past behavior and emphasized his commitment to a stable future for his family. He provided a signed statement of intent to abstain from all drug involvement and submitted character references attesting to his integrity and work ethic.
The administrative judge ruled in favor of the applicant, concluding that he had successfully mitigated the security concerns. The judge found that the applicant's past drug use was unlikely to recur and no longer cast doubt on his reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment. The applicant's proactive steps towards rehabilitation and his current lifestyle were deemed sufficient to grant eligibility for access to classified information.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline EPersonal Conduct · For Applicant
- Guideline HDrug Involvement & Substance Misuse · For Applicant
- Guideline JCriminal Conduct · For 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. 23-02830

grantedMay 6, 2025· Hon. Edward W. Loughran· hearing

Summary

This case involved an applicant seeking a security clearance, facing concerns under DOHA Guidelines E (Personal Conduct), H (Drug Involvement), and J (Criminal Conduct). The Statement of Reasons detailed a history of illegal drug use, including marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, LSD, and hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Specifically, the applicant reported using MDMA approximately once a month between 2015 and February 2022, and cocaine use that increased to about 20 times a year in 2017 or 2018, with the last use in March 2022. LSD and hallucinogenic mushrooms were each used twice between 2017 and February 2022. These substances were either purchased by the applicant or provided by friends. The allegations also cited questionable judgment and an unwillingness to comply with rules.

Despite these concerns, the administrative judge applied mitigating conditions and ultimately granted the security clearance. The decision was based on the applicant's demonstrated commitment to abstain from drugs, the judge's finding that past illegal drug use was unlikely to recur, and a favorable assessment of the applicant's character and rehabilitation efforts.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant demonstrated a commitment to abstain from drugs.
The judge found the applicant's past illegal drug use unlikely to recur.
The applicant's character and rehabilitation efforts were favorably assessed.

Conditions Referenced

Mitigating

AG ¶ 17appliedMitigating Conditions for Personal Conduct
AG ¶ 24appliedMitigating Conditions for Drug Involvement
AG ¶ 32appliedMitigating Conditions for Criminal Conduct

Procedural Posture

Decision DateMay 6, 2025

Cite For

Mitigation of Security Concerns Related to Personal Conduct Under Guideline E
Mitigation of Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Mitigation of Criminal Conduct Under Guideline J

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: granted

The judge found that the applicant's conduct reflected questionable judgment and an unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations. However, the applicant's successful rehabilitation and commitment to abstain from illegal drug use were credited, leading to a favorable outcome for the applicant under Guideline E.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Conduct	Concealed Issue	Response	Disqualifying (¶16)	Mitigating applied (¶17)	Mitigation
3.a	Conduct reflects questionable judgment and an unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations.	For Applicant	Questionable Judgment General	—	Unknown	(c) credible adverse information across areas supporting a whole-person concern	(a) prompt, good-faith correction before being confronted (c) offense is minor, long ago, infrequent, or unique circumstances	—

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: granted

The judge found that the applicant had a history of illegal drug use, including marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, LSD, and hallucinogenic mushrooms. However, the applicant demonstrated successful rehabilitation and a commitment to abstaining from drug use, leading to a decision to grant eligibility for a security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant has a history of illegal drug use, including marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, LSD, and hallucinogenic mushrooms.	For Applicant	Unspecified Drug Involvement	Unspecified	Unknown	—	—	—
1.b	Applicant used MDMA when he was in college. He estimated that between 2015 and February 2022, he used MDMA about once a month, or about 15 times a year. He purchased it, or it was provided to him by friends.	For Applicant	MDMA	Occasional	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia	—	Claimed Acknowledgment and Remorse
1.c	Applicant first used cocaine when he was in college. He estimated that he used cocaine recreationally before 2016, but it increased to about 20 times a year in 2017 or 2018, before it tapered off again. He occasionally purchased cocaine, but it was mostly provided to him by friends. He last used cocaine in about March 2022.	For Applicant	Cocaine	Frequent	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia	—	Claimed Acknowledgment and Remorse
1.d	Applicant estimated that he used LSD and hallucinogenic mushrooms twice each between about 2017 and February 2022. He purchased it, or it was provided to him by friends.	For Applicant	Psilocybin	Experimental	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia	—	Claimed Acknowledgment and Remorse

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

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline J (Criminal Conduct) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: granted

The judge found that the applicant had a history of illegal drug use, including multiple controlled substances, but determined that the applicant had successfully rehabilitated and that the conduct was unlikely to recur. The judge ruled in favor of the applicant, granting eligibility for a security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Offense	Criminal disposition	Response	Disqualifying (¶31)	Mitigating applied (¶32)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant used multiple controlled substances.	For Applicant	Drug Related Criminal Charge	Conduct No Charge	Admitted	(d) violation of parole/probation or failure to complete a court program	(a) so much time has passed, or unusual circumstances, that it is unlikely to recur (d) evidence of successful rehabilitation (time, restitution, employment, etc.)	Documented Rehabilitation Evidence

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

Full decision

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