11 Sailors Adjudicated and 7 Pending in Drug Charges

Since 03-10-04

From NSL UPDATE 02-27-2004

11 Sailors Adjudicated, 7 Pending in Drug Charges
By Journalist 2nd Class Kimberly Rodgers, Navy NewsStand Staff

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- An August 2003 Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) investigation has lead to administrative and/or disciplinary action against 11 U.S. Navy Sailors, with another seven determinations pending. Five additional Sailors were cleared during the investigation. The investigation was first initiated in 2001 when the Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Task Force (CSNTF) asked NCIS to intervene, after local Connecticut police suspected two Sailors from Commander, Naval Submarine Group 2 were involved in illegal drug activity while trespassing on AMTRAK property. The NCIS investigator subsequently questioned the Sailors, who admitted to illegal drug use and alleged that other Groton submarine force personnel were involved in the illegal drug dealings.

However, when the CSNTF authorities expressed concerns regarding a task force member's personal safety, the NCIS agent decided to delay informing the Navy chain of command - in violation of Navy policy. NCIS agents scheduled a follow-up meeting with CSNTF authorities for Sept. 11, 2001. When the terrorist attacks occurred, the entire case was subsumed by events. The NCIS agents involved were appropriately disciplined for failing to report the incident to the Sailors' commands.

By August 2003, one of the two Sailors had completed his active-duty obligation, and the Department of the Navy's Central Adjudication Facility queried the remaining Sailor's chain of command regarding the status 2001 illegal drug use investigation upon a routine update and review of the Sailor's security clearance. As this was the Navy chain of command's first notification, the command took swift and decisive action, removing all of the suspected Sailors from submarine duty and requesting that NCIS immediately re-initiate the investigation. NCIS also took effective corrective action to ensure that its procedures for notifying respective chains of command are followed when opening an investigation regarding Navy personnel.

"The Navy has a zero tolerance on drug use," said Lt. Phil Rosi, a spokesman for COMSUBGRU 2. "Drug use is inconsistent with Navy core values, and all allegations of drug use by Navy personnel are fully investigated." Twenty-three Sailors assigned to 18 commands were investigated. The pay grades of the involved Sailors ranged from E-3 to E-6.

To date, nine Sailors have been tried at general, summary or special courts-martial, with punishments including punitive damages, confinement, reductions in rate and forfeitures of pay; two Sailors are pending an Article 32 investigation; three Sailors are pending pretrial investigation; and four have been or are pending administrative separation from the service. Commands have taken no action on five Sailors, who have denied any involvement, due to a lack of corroborating evidence.

The Navy has a very proactive drug-testing program, requiring all commands to test 10-20 percent of its Navy personnel monthly, and everyone at least once per year. There was a 9 percent increase in fiscal year 2003 (FY03) urinalysis drug-testing samples compared to FY02, and an increase of 20 percent compared to FY01. The Navy experienced an 18 percent decrease in positive test results from Sailors compared to FY02, and a 23 percent decrease compared to FY01.

When contacted by NCIS, Sailors implicated in the investigation, not including those cleared or currently under investigation, were attached to USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720); Naval Support Unit, Ballston Spa, N.Y.; USS Kentucky (Blue) (SSBN 737); USS Nimitz (CVN 68); USS Los Angeles (SSN 688); USS Florida (SSBN 728); USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72); USS Nebraska (Gold) (SSBN 739); USS Helena (SSN 725); USS San Juan (SSN 751); USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) and Submarine Squadron Support Unit, New London, Conn.

The investigation has not identified any Sailors as being under the influence of illegal drugs while on duty.