Summary
A 43-year-old machine test technician was denied a security clearance due to significant financial irresponsibility and intentional falsification of his financial status, falling under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The applicant had over $12,000 in delinquent debts and failed to demonstrate a track record of financial responsibility.
Specifically, on his Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing dated July 3, 2007, the applicant falsely answered "NO" to being currently 90 days delinquent on any debts. He also inaccurately answered "YES" to being over 180 days delinquent on debts, listing only one debt to Collect American for a repossessed vehicle, while failing to disclose twenty-six other delinquent debts. These undisclosed debts included amounts owed to Sprint PCS, PRGRSVMGNT, Washington Mutual, Sprint Telecom, Cal Bus Bureau (multiple), Bay Area CR, Palisades/Verizon, AAC/Household, Pacific Gas & Electric, 1STMWTDDELTA, CACVLLC/Household Automotive (a reduced debt of $4,000 from $12,385), Cal Coast Medical Payment Data, Central Financial, Gess and Associates, AFNI/Verizon, Paragonway/Advance American Cash, PRIG Mgt Sys/Medical Payment Data, TA Ross Coll, Medical Payment Data (multiple), Reli Rec Svc, CB Stockon, Providian Bank, and CMRE Finance.
The judge concluded that the applicant's ongoing financial issues and lack of transparency demonstrated poor judgment and unreliability. The intentional omission of multiple delinquent debts from his application indicated a lack of candor and trustworthiness, raising significant concerns about his reliability and ability to protect classified information. Therefore, granting a security clearance was deemed inconsistent with national interests.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant has over $12,000 in delinquent debts and has not demonstrated a track record of financial responsibility.
- The applicant intentionally omitted multiple delinquent debts from his security clearance application, indicating a lack of candor and trustworthiness.
- The applicant's financial issues and dishonesty raise significant concerns about his reliability and ability to protect classified information.
Conditions Referenced
- 19(a)raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- 16(a)raisedThe Deliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant and Material Facts
Key Rule Quoted
“The adjudicative process is an examination of a sufficient period of a person’s life to make an affirmative determination that the person is an acceptable security risk.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJun 9, 2008
- Answer filedJul 8, 2008
- Hearing heldNov 18, 2008originally scheduled for October 8, 2008, but rescheduled
- Decision dateJan 9, 2009
Cite For
- Financial Irresponsibility as a Basis for Security Clearance Denial
- Intentional Falsification of Information on Security Clearance Applications
- The Importance of Candor and Reliability in Security Clearance Evaluations