Summary
A 53-year-old defense contractor and former Marine was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The applicant failed to file federal income tax returns for five consecutive years, from 2009 to 2013. The judge found the applicant's explanations for these financial issues unpersuasive, indicating a lack of financial responsibility.
Additionally, the applicant had a history of criminal charges and traffic citations. These included a 1991 misdemeanor fraud charge, a 1995 misdemeanor for operating a vehicle off-road, and felony charges in 1999 for aggravated battery and cruelty towards a child, which were later resolved as misdemeanors with probation. Further incidents included a 2000 traffic citation for failure to obey a traffic control device, 2001 charges for battery and resisting arrest without violence that were dropped after an apology and community service, and a 2009 misdemeanor charge for domestic assault.
The applicant also received a 2012 traffic citation for careless driving, resolved by attending defensive driving school. This pattern of criminal behavior and traffic citations, combined with the unfiled tax returns, raised significant doubts about the applicant's judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness, leading to the denial of the security clearance.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant failed to file federal income tax returns for multiple years, indicating a lack of financial responsibility.
- The applicant's explanations for his tax-filing issues were not credible and did not mitigate the concerns raised.
- A pattern of criminal behavior and traffic citations contributed to doubts about the applicant's judgment and reliability.
Conditions Referenced
- F.19(g)raisedFailure to File Annual Federal, State, or Local Income Tax Returns as Required
- E.16(c)raisedCredible Adverse Information in Several Adjudicative Issue Areas
- E.16(d)raisedCredible Adverse Information That Is Not Explicitly Covered Under Any Other Guideline
Key Rule Quoted
“Eligibility for a security clearance is predicated upon the applicant meeting the criteria contained in the adjudicative guidelines.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJan 28, 2015
- Answer filedFeb 12, 2015
- Hearing heldMay 13, 2015
- Decision dateSep 14, 2015
Cite For
- Failure to File Tax Returns as a Disqualifying Condition Under Guideline F
- Pattern of Criminal Behavior Impacting Security Clearance Eligibility Under Guideline E
- Credibility of Applicant's Explanations for Financial Issues as a Factor in Security Clearance Decisions