Final No. 19-0007-I COA Capital Improvement Program Projects - Potential Fraud

The Office of Inspector General was provided with information regarding allegations of the City of Albuquerque and possible fraud as it relates to the use of Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds.

OIG Corrective Actions Follow Up Report

In 2020, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) began requesting responses from the City of Albuquerque Departments when findings and recommendations are made in OIG reports. The written responses include the department's planned corrective actions and where appropriate, date for achieving the planned actions. This process was implemented to further strengthen the procedures for resolutions of investigation findings and corrective actions on recommendations made. The purpose of this follow-up is to report on the progress made by departments in addressing the report findings and recommendations.

Final No. 21-0001-I Solid Waste Department - Potential Employee Misconduct

The Office of Inspector General received a complaint indicating that a passenger in a Solid Waste truck was smoking an illegal substance in a business bathroom and that this was the second time this had occurred.

Final No. 20-0001-R Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Contract Review

The Office of Inspector General was asked to review the contract between the City and the Balloon Fiesta that details responsibilities of each party to the other. The purpose was to review the contract deliverables and reporting requirements to ensure they were in compliance.

Final No. 20-0004-I Review of Travel of City Coucilor Pena

The Office of Inspector General reviewed the findings and recommendations of the Office of the State Auditor regarding travel expenses of City Councilor Pena that were not in compliance with City travel regulations.

Final No. 20-0001-I Improper Personnel Action/Abuse of Position

The OIG conducted and completed investigation 19-0002-I “Beehive” which was approved on May 27, 2020. During the course of that investigation several other red flags were found along with similar complaints being brought to our attention. All had a common denominator, the Former Animal Welfare Department Director (AWD), D1. The decision was made to open a separate investigation to look into those issues.

Final No. 20-0011-I Whistleblower Complaint, Sexual Harassment, Retaliation

The Office of Inspector General received a complaint that expressed concerns about the Department of Municipal Development Security Division.

Final No. 20-0005-I- Violation of Personnel Policies

The Office of Inspector General conducted an investigation regarding concerns that a Department of Municipal Development employee had been conducting personal business during work hours, including running a home health care business during work hours.

Final No. 19-0001-R Emprende Latino Review

The Office of Inspector General received a request to conduct a performance review of a contract the Economic Development Department had established with EmprendeLatino, LLC to support entrepreneurs in the Hispanic community. The organization had undergone a significant change in staffing and the requestor wanted to ensure that there were no performance problems as a result.

Final No. 19-0003-C Public Access TV

The Office of the Inspector General was provided with information regarding allegations with City of Albuquerque and possible fraud as it relates to the public access TV contract. The allegations involved the eligibility of the contractor to obtain the initial contract, property obtained and purchased with City funds as well as property being retained by the contractor, and the office/location used by the contractor.

Final No. 20-0009-I Animal Welfare Department Volunteer

A complaint was forwarded to the Office of the Inspector General in reference to a volunteer with the Animal Welfare Department. This volunteer is alleged to have been reported multiple times to the various managers and Directors within the Animal Welfare Department, yet has been able to continue volunteering and negatively representing both the Department and City.

Final No. 20-0003-I - Disputed Contract Pricing

The Office of Inspector General received information that a vendor was overcharging the City based on the price list the complainant had. Aviation employee, AV1 contacted the OIG stating that there was a situation regarding a vendor to which Aviation “piggybacked” off of for services. AV1 stated the State of New Mexico Purchasing Division awarded a Price Agreement off of a Federal, General Services Administration (GSA) schedule.

Final No. 20-0008-I Theft of City Property

The Office of Inspector General conducted an investigation based on information received regarding concerns that a twenty-foot (20') trailer was removed from the BioPark grounds and given to a local subcontractor. It is alleged that the trailer belonged to the City.

Final No. 18-0004-I - Alleged Impropriety in Street Lighting

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque conducted an investigation of allegations regarding the street lighting project and the associated contracts that were awarded to Citelum US, Inc.

Final No. 19-0009-I - Environmental Health Time Reporting Fraud

The Office of the Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque conducted a thorough review of the different forms of data available to determine the time an Environmental Health Department employee was present at work and the time being reported on the employee’s timecard. The complaint stated an employee was suspected of time reporting fraud and abuse of position in the Environmental Health Department.

Final No. 19-0002-I - Beehive

The Office of the Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque conducted a thorough review of the contracts between the City of Albuquerque (COA) and Beehive Technology, LLC . According to the initial complaint, Beehive was being used as a front to pay a subcontractor, who previously had a contract with the COA under a different name, Organizational Change Management, LLC. (OCM). The allegation stated that OCM had reached the contract limit with the COA and is why the company name of Beehive was being utilized.

Final No. 19-0001-S - Planning Department HR Process

The Office of Inspector General received a request from the Office of City Council requesting an inspection of the hiring processes at the City's Planning Department.

Final No. 19-0006-I - FINAL - Report of Investigation Animal Welfare - AMENDED.pdf

The Office of Inspector General received an anonymous compliant stating that the number of animals being euthanized by the Animal Welfare Department were being under reported. Complainant further states that the Animal Welfare Director and another AWD employee were removing animals that were killed from the software to make it appear they were never in the shelter.

Final No. 19-0040-C - Report of Investigation City Engineer

The Office of Inspector General received a complaint from an anonymous worker for the City of Albuquerque stating that one of the Planning Department's employees has been accused of abusing the authority of his position for the financial gain of his brother and possibly himself.

Final No. 19-0010-I Planning Department: Possible Fraud

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the City of Albuquerque, NM, conducted an investigation based on information received regarding concerns with the contractor the City's Planning Department, Code Enforcement Division uses for board up services. Concerns were brought to the OIG that the emergency board up contractor was being over-utilized by on particular Code Enforcement employee and that there may be possible collusion.

Final No. 18-0007 I Transit: Alleged Misuse of City Time

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque, NM conducted an investigation based on information received regarding a number of Transit employees traveling to the BYD plant in Lancaster, California to conduct bus assemble inspections for the City’s Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) project. According to the complainant, a number of Transit employees may not have been going to the BYD plant and instead were using work time as a vacation.

19-0033 C Albuquerque Museum and Possible Employee Theft from the Cash Boxes

The Office of Inspector General conducted a thorough review involving cash handling procedures for the City of Albuquerque (City), the process by which the Albuquerque Museum collects money from the parking lot cash boxes, and the allegation of theft from these boxes by a City employee.

19-0005-I HopeWorks: Better Way Program

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque received a complaint regarding "There's a Better Way" program, which was run by HopeWorks and funded by the City. HopeWorks is a nonprofit organization that provides services to people experiencing (or at risk of) homelessness in Albuquerque.

19-0003-I Aviation: Alleged Abuse of Position; Unethical Conduct

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque conducted an investigation based on information received from a complaint regarding a police officer for the Aviation Department. According to the complaint, the police officer was accused of committing a security violation when accessing a particular gate which grants employees access to the airport grounds.

06-27-2019 #19-0001-I Aviation Department

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque conducted an investigation based on information received from a complaint regarding an employee with the Aviation Department (AD). According to the complaint, an AD Associate Director (AV-1) submitted a contract proposal for the job he was currently overseeing as an AD employee.

10-25-17 #I18-102 Alleged Misappropriation of City Resources

Misappropriation of City resources by BioPark employees who were involved in the conversion of a maintenance facility storage space to a makeshift "barbershop," where haircuts were provided to employees.

8-25-17 #I18-101 Report of Investigation: Alleged Campaign Finance Fraud

City of Albuquerque Board of Ethics directed OIG to conduct investigation involving allegations of public finance fraud by a City Council District 1 candidate.

11-2-17 #R17-103 Report of Inspection: Inspection of American with Disabilities Act Compliance by City of Albuquerque

The OIG conducted an inspection of the City’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act to gain an understanding of the City’s compliance and to share the results of this inspection with key leaders in City government, as well as with members of the community.

6-6-18 #OIG 18-0001-R Report of Inspection: ART Project

The OIG conducted an inspection of the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) project related procurements to include the construction of the nine-mile ART corridor on Central Avenue and the purchase of the electric buses from BYD. The inspection disclosed there were several opportunities to improve processes within City government.

2-28-18 #OIG 18-0003-I Report of Investigation: Associate Director of Animal Welfare Department

The OIG conducted an investigation of allegations that the Animal Welfare Department Associate Director misused her position to circumvent established processes and policies for adopting animals that were required by the general public.

2-28-18 #OIG 18-0001-I Report of Investigation: Illegal Discharge of Water into the Storm Drainage System

The OIG conducted an investigation based on information received while conducting an investigation of the Transit Department. The information received alleged that TD employees at the Daytona Transit Facility had discharged water contaminated with pollutants.

2-28-18 #OIG 18-0002-I Report of Investigation: Alleged Misuse of Employee Resources

The OIG conducted an investigation based on information received from the City’s Legal Department concerning an allegation that a Transit Department supervisor directed employees to work at his residence during working hours.

4-25-18 #OIG 18-0006-I Report of Investigation: Animal Welfare Department (Possible Retaliation)

The OIG conducted an investigation based on information indicating possible retaliation and termination of an AWD employee. The information received indicated that employees who had cooperated with a previous OIG investigation of AWD were being suspended, demoted or placed on a Performance Improvement Plans. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if the actions against the terminated employee were retaliatory in nature.