Summary
A 36-year-old U.S. Government contractor employee was denied a Secret security clearance under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct). The denial stemmed from the applicant's deliberate concealment of multiple arrests on his April 1996 Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF-86) and during subsequent interviews with Defense Investigative Service (DIS) agents. This concealment was alleged to constitute a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
Further concerns were raised by an arrest in January 1987 for possession of stolen property, to which the applicant pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. This incident contributed to a pattern of criminal activity that cast doubt on his judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness.
The applicant's explanations for these omissions, including claims of poor memory or misunderstanding, were not found credible, leading to the conclusion that the concealment was intentional. Consequently, the applicant's trustworthiness was undermined, resulting in the denial of his security clearance.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant concealed multiple arrests from his security clearance application and during interviews with investigators.
- The concealment was deemed deliberate and not satisfactorily mitigated by poor memory or misunderstanding of terms.
- The applicant's explanations for his omissions were not credible, undermining his trustworthiness.
Conditions Referenced
- E2.2raisedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant and Material Facts
- E2.3raisedDeliberately Providing False or Misleading Information
- J1raisedAny Criminal Conduct, Regardless of Whether the Person Was Formally Charged
- J2raisedA Single Serious Crime or Multiple Lesser Offenses
Key Rule Quoted
“The clearly consistent standard indicates that security-clearance determinations should err, if they must, on the side of denials.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJul 22, 1997
- Answer filedAug 12, 1997
- Hearing heldOct 1, 1997
- Decision dateOct 27, 1997
Cite For
- Issues of Concealment and Personal Conduct Under Guideline E
- Criminal Conduct Implications Under Guideline J
- Credibility of Applicant's Explanations for Omissions in Security Clearance Applications