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OIG Case No. 04-041

OIG opened an investigation into allegations that a Bureau of Diplomatic Security agent submitted a false claim for Separate Maintenance Allowance (SMA) payments.  The investigation determined that the agent received $4570 in SMA payments despite having been legally separated from his spouse prior to his application for the SMA.  On February 16, 2005, the Bureau of Human Resources notified the agent of a proposed five-day suspension of him for improperly receiving SMA benefits.  On June 16, 2006, the Bureau of Resource Management informed OIG that it had initiated collection action against the employee in the amount of $4570.