Government gas card abuse is on the rise

The problem reaches beyond Kings Bay and to all walks of life. A Virginia firefighter, government officials in New Jersey and a star athlete in Tennessee were all caught abusing charge cards to fuel their own vehicles or make personal purchases.

If government credit cards go unchecked, service members and civilians here can be just as susceptible to the temptation. According to the Kings Bay Judge Advocate General, the punishments for misusing government credit cards range from a reprimand to a court-martial on first offenses.

"We must remind our Sailors, Marines and civilian employees that the same rules and restrictions apply as with any other government credit card," said Base Support Vehicle and Equipment (BSVE) Manager Debra Scott. "You can't use them for anything other than official government use."

The primary purpose of a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) card is so the operator may obtain fuel or take care of maintenance for the government vehicle. Excluded from this is 'quick trips' home during lunch and especially, the refueling of your own personal vehicle.

"If you are using the gas card for anything other than official use, whether in the civilian or military sector, there are severe penalties," said Scott, adding that military personnel may be punished under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) while civilians are referred to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for disposition. Both face possible job loss and a dark mark that will remain permanent.

"Civilian abuse of any government credit card usually starts with a letter of reprimand to job removal on first offense," said Karen Dotson, Kings Bay's Business Manager.

Preventative measures against gas card theft start with base vehicle representatives at each of Kings Bay's tenant commands' monitoring ethical and legal practices. These individuals are the only ones allowed to sign for GSA cards from the transportation office, so the responsibility is placed on them to maintain and monitor fuel receipts and sign-out logs.

There are automated checks and balances that GSA puts in as red flags for mileage, gallons pumped, and frequent usage that send alerts when unusual trends are noticed.

"When suspected abusive trends are found, we first turn the credit card off, followed by sending reports to the base investigators who determine whether to contact Naval Criminal Investigative Service or not," said Scott.

In a preemptive measure, Scott is canceling current gas cards and new ones will be issued sometime in November. The command representative must complete training from Naval Supply Systems Command and provide the certificate to transportation in order to sign out the new cards.

Management Analyst Agency Program Coordinator Cyndi Mitchell, who oversees the use of government travel cards, said she checks every purchase from every person, every month to ensure proper use.

Plus, the cards are only activated when traveling. Mitchell added that managing gas cards would be difficult because the purchase is always the same and many people have access to them.

It's all about accountability and responsibility. "Anyone who uses a government vehicle is responsible for knowing what is in the instructions and directives," said Scott. She added a warning that abusers will be caught and held accountable.

"Though gas prices are a huge financial burden, I would rather see someone seek help than seek counsel," said Engineman Chief (SW) Willie Thornton. "Besides going through your chain of command, service members can seek aid from the Fleet and Family Support Center or Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society during times of financial hardship, added Thornton."

If a card is missing or card abuse is suspected, contact Debra Scott at 573-4640 or Fraud, Waste and Abuse at 1-800-522-3451.