CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 24-00907 — CASE

DOHA Record Explorer

ISCR Case 24-00907

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

Case Profile
Decision Date11/20/2025
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Darlene Lokey Anderson
Government Counsel: Daniel P. O'Reilley
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 41-year-old Stockroom Assistant Specialist employed by a defense contractor, seeking a security clearance. The Department of Defense issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) citing concerns under multiple adjudicative guidelines, including Financial Considerations (Guideline F), Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse (Guideline H), Criminal Conduct (Guideline J), and Personal Conduct (Guideline E). The core allegations included significant financial debts exceeding $13,000, a history of illegal drug use, and multiple arrests related to drug offenses.
The applicant admitted to several allegations regarding his financial situation, including debts from a mortgage foreclosure and various charged-off accounts. He claimed to have made efforts to resolve these debts and asserted that his financial situation had improved, as he was current on his mortgage and living within a budget. Regarding drug involvement, he acknowledged a history of methamphetamine use and manufacturing, as well as arrests for drug-related offenses, but contended that he had been drug-free since completing a rehabilitation program in 2016. He denied using drugs while in military service and attributed some of his past issues to personal circumstances.
The administrative judge ruled in favor of the applicant, concluding that he had demonstrated sufficient evidence of rehabilitation and a commitment to maintaining a drug-free lifestyle. The judge noted the applicant's proactive steps to address his financial issues and his current stable employment, which contributed to the decision to grant the security clearance. The ruling emphasized the applicant's positive changes and the absence of recent drug use or criminal behavior.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline EPersonal Conduct · Against Applicant
- Guideline FFinancial Considerations · For Applicant
- Guideline HDrug Involvement & Substance Misuse · Against Applicant
- Guideline JCriminal Conduct · 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. 24-00907

deniedNov 20, 2025· Hon. Darlene Lokey Anderson· hearing

Summary

A 41-year-old married father of four was denied a security clearance due to significant concerns under four guidelines: Personal Conduct, Financial Considerations, Drug Involvement, and Criminal Conduct. While some mitigating factors were applied regarding financial issues, the applicant's extensive history of drug use, multiple arrests, and dishonesty during the clearance process ultimately led to the denial.

Specifically, the applicant had a history of illegal drug involvement, including manufacturing methamphetamine and multiple arrests for drug-related offenses. Further, he was not truthful on his security clearance application regarding his military discharge and drug use history. Ongoing concerns were also raised by pending drug charges from 2021.

The adjudicator determined that the applicant could not be trusted to safeguard classified information, citing disqualifying conditions related to drug involvement, criminal conduct, and personal conduct. Mitigating conditions were applied concerning financial issues, but these were insufficient to overcome the other serious concerns.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant has a history of illegal drug involvement, including manufacturing methamphetamine and multiple arrests for drug-related offenses.
The applicant was not truthful on his security clearance application regarding his military discharge and drug use history.
Pending drug charges from 2021 raise ongoing concerns about the applicant's reliability and trustworthiness.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 24(a)raisedSubstance Misuse
AG ¶ 30(a)raisedPattern of Criminal Offenses
AG ¶ 15(a)raisedDeliberate Omission or Falsification

Mitigating

AG ¶ 20(a)rejectedBehavior Occurred Long AgoThe applicant's drug involvement is extensive and recent, undermining the applicability of this condition.
AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedConditions Beyond ControlThe applicant's financial issues were mitigated, but drug involvement and criminal conduct were not.
AG ¶ 26(a)rejectedBehavior Unlikely to RecurThe applicant's ongoing legal issues and history of drug use do not support this condition.

Key Rule Quoted

“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the national security.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedSep 17, 2024
Answer filedOct 16, 2024
Hearing heldSep 9, 2025
Decision dateNov 20, 2025

Cite For

Denial Based on Extensive Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Denial Due to Ongoing Criminal Charges Under Guideline J
Issues of Dishonesty in the Security Clearance Process Under Guideline E

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

Full decision

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