Awards

October 16, 2012, the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) held its 15th annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. PBGC OIG's Mission Critical Pension Plan Processing Evaluation Team was presented with the Management Award for Excellence. The team identified serious errors in PBGC mission critical pension plan termination processes, resulting in revaluation of the largest terminated plans' assets and benefit determinations, and overhaul of the plan termination processes. Team members included Alejandro Feliciano, Auditor, Nina Hann, Auditor, Norman Ingram, Auditor, Donna Polk, Auditor, Michele Scott, Senior Auditor, Ashok Mathew Thomas, Senior Financial Analyst, Candace Milbry, Audit Manager, Joseph Marchowsky, Assistant Inspector General Audit, and led by Rebecca A. Batts, Inspector General.

Left to right: Joseph Marchowsky, Assistant Inspector General, Ashok Mathew Thomas, Financial Analyst, Rebecca A. Batts, Inspector General, Candace Milbry, Audit Manager, and Alejandro Feliciano, Auditor.

Left to right: Joseph Marchowsky, Assistant Inspector General, and Rebecca A. Batts, Inspector General

In a first-of-its-kind award, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) recognized Anita Varner of the Retirement Services Division with the "INSPECTOR GENERAL COMMENDATION AWARD" for her outstanding work, which led to the identification of 16 fraudulent cases in PBGC's Missing Participant Program. As a direct result of Ms. Varner's reporting of the suspected fraud to the OIG and subsequent assistance during its investigation; the OIG:

• recovered $77,000 (with additional recoveries expected) of more than $174,000 that was paid out in fraudulent payments;
• obtained a conviction in the federal district court, with the individual now serving time in Federal prison;
• identified 2 co-conspirators in the fraudulent scheme; and
• uncovered a money laundering and bank fraud scheme.

The OIG publicly presented the Commendation to Ms. Varner in a senior staff meeting to acknowledge her significant contributions to preventing and detecting fraud at PBGC.

Front, left to right: Cornelia R. B. Green-Senior Special Agent; Anita Varner; Deborah Stover-Springer-Deputy Inspector General and Legal Counsel; Kathleen Wormley-Investigative Technician.
Rear, left to right: Robert L. Emmons-Inspector General; Aaron R. Jordan-Assistant IG for Investigations; Jay Hancock-Senior Special Agent.