This semiannual period was marked by the death of Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Special Agent William “Buddy” Sentner III, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on June 21, 2006. Agent Sentner was working as part of a team to execute arrest warrants on six federal correctional officers in Tallahassee, Florida. The six correctional officers were charged with conspiring to sexually abuse female inmates and to introduce contraband into the prison. During the execution of the arrest warrants, one of the correctional officers who was being arrested opened fire on the arrest team. Acting with extraordinary courage, Agent Sentner engaged the officer and returned fire, killing the correctional officer. Agent Sentner was killed and a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employee was wounded by the correctional officer. Agent Sentner’s brave actions under fire saved the lives of several other federal employees while sacrificing his own life.
Like other OIG agents, Agent Sentner recognized that his job was dangerous and difficult. It is not easy to investigate federal employees who abuse their trust and prey upon others. But Agent Sentner did not shy away from duty or danger. He, and other OIG agents, worked tirelessly to make the Department of Justice, and the country, better and safer. In my view, Buddy Sentner lived like a hero and died like a hero.
This semiannual report contains a tribute to Buddy Sentner. His courage also was recognized by the 2006 Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism, which was bestowed on him posthumously. In addition, the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency and the Executive Council on Integrity and Efficiency, a group of Inspectors General from throughout the federal government, created an award in Buddy’s name to honor OIG employees who exhibit exceptional dedication to duty.
In this semiannual report, we also summarize other OIG investigations, inspections, audits, and special reviews. As described throughout this report, OIG investigators continued their important work investigating allegations of criminal and administrative misconduct by Department of Justice (Department) employees and contractors.
Our audits, evaluations, and special reviews have continued to concentrate on the Department’s top management and performance challenges, including counterterrorism, efforts to upgrade the Department’s information technology (IT) systems, and attempts to improve the sharing of intelligence and law enforcement information. For example, during this reporting period we examined the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) progress toward achieving interoperability between its fingerprint system and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) fingerprint system; the BOP’s efforts to prevent terrorists and other high-risk inmates from using the mail to encourage terrorists or criminal activities; and the FBI’s performance in connection with the handling of Katrina Leung, an asset in its Chinese counterintelligence program who had a long-term intimate relationship with her FBI handler.
We also completed other significant reviews this reporting period, such as our follow-up review assessing the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) actions to control the illegal diversion of prescription drugs and a report examining the shooting incident involving the FBI and Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, a federal fugitive and leader of a Puerto Rican pro-independence organization.
We appreciate the support that we have received from both the Department and the Congress as we conduct our important oversight work. Finally, I want to express our gratitude for the outpouring of support from the Department, the OIG community, other law enforcement agencies, and many individuals to the OIG and Buddy Sentner’s family in response to his death. He made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, and we will always be inspired by his example as we carry on with the important work of the OIG.
Glenn A. Fine
Inspector General
October 31, 2006