FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, November 18, 2013

The Peace Corps Office of Inspector General Receives Two Awards for Excellence

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 15, 2013 - The Peace Corps Office of Inspector General received two awards for excellence on November 15, 2013 at the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s (CIGIE) 16^th Annual Awards Ceremony.

Assistant Inspector General for Audit Bradley Grubb and Lead Auditor Hal Nanavati received an Audit Award for Excellence for the Audit of Peace Corps/Tonga. CIGIE recognized the audit for its significant impact on how the agency processes collections at overseas posts, which led to major changes in system controls to prevent cashiers from embezzling funds.

Senior Special Agent Joyce Shores and an investigative team received the Investigation Award for Excellence for the investigation U.S. vs. Jesse Osmun. The U.S. vs. Jesse Osmun team included the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistant Attaché Toshua Williams, Child Forensic Interviewer Amy Allen, National Program Manager Kimberly Foy, and Special Agent Rod Khattabi; the Department of Justice’s Assistant U.S. Attorney Krishna Patel, and Trial Attorney Bonnie Kane; and South African Police Service Detective Captain Adéle Sonnekus.

The investigation team was acknowledged for excellence in conducting a complex international investigation of serial child sexual abuse by former Peace Corps Volunteer Jesse Osmun in South Africa. After a lengthy investigation, Osmun pleaded guilty in 2012 and was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution.

Inspector General Kathy A. Buller stated, “These prestigious awards affirm the important work we do and show that our work is appreciated by our OIG colleagues at other agencies.”

The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, established offices of inspector general (OIGs) within Federal agencies to combat fraud, waste, abuse, and to improve the economy and efficiency of program operations. The inspector general (IG) community has more than 14,000 audit, investigation, inspection, and other professionals.

CIGIE is a statutorily established independent entity within the executive branch representing 73 OIGs in the federal government. CIGIE’s mission is to promote integrity, economy, and effectiveness in government agencies as well as to increase the professionalism and effectiveness of personnel in the community of inspectors general. For more information on the IG community, visit http://www.ignet.gov.

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