By this time, thousands in the political arena in Guam likely have at least a mild understanding of a federal corruption investigation circling people near the top of the politics food chain. The investigation, according to multiple sources that include Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Hermosa, is focused on allegations of fraud in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.
Among the sources are witnesses who have been interviewed by the FBI, all of whom are unwilling to speak on the record until at least public charges are filed in the U.S. District Court of Guam. The witnesses have told Kandit federal investigators have asked about their employment related to PUA payments dating back to 2021. At least one of the sources said the FBI presented the source with evidence PUA claims and checks were taken out in the source’s name for which the source did not actually apply.
PUA was a federal pandemic program that generated more than $500 million in wage loss and supplemental wage assistance benefits for those whose jobs and hours were cut as a result of COVID-19. It was administered by the Guam Department of Labor.
Here are some helpful tips to any person (GovGuam employee, regular citizen, contractor, bidder, etc.) who may find themselves dealing with anyone connected to the highest levels of the government. If you don’t want to find yourself on the wrong end of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s pursuit of this case:
- Don’t even think of asking any GovGuam employee to hook you up and connect you with any service outside of proper protocols, the law, and regulations. You never know who is involved in the current investigation, whose phone is wire tapped, or who is cooperating and wearing a wire.
- If you’re a GovGuam employee and someone at a higher rank asks you to do something that you know is wrong (outside of protocol, regulation, ethics, or the law), don’t do it. Report it right away.
- If you believe you’re somehow connected to the PUA fraud case and someone calls you to discuss the matter, be careful that your conversation does not turn into a conspiracy to obstruct a federal investigation. Take a look at the Diddy case to see how the Justice Department deals with things like that.
- If you have knowledge of any wrongdoing involving federal funds, call the FBI.
