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Potomac Man Gets Home Detention for Obstructing Security Clearance Investigation

A Potomac man received six months of home detention as part of three years of probation for obstructing background investigations for a high-level security clearance.

 

Making false statements to investigators conducting a background investigation for a high-level government security clearance is a serious matter—the offense recently netted one Potomac man six months of home detention with electric monitoring as part of three years of probation, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Gurpreet Singh Kohli, 58, received the sentence and a $30,000 fine for not revealing to his employer—a Maryland defense electronics and weapons manufacturer for which he was required to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance—that he also operated NAVTEC LLC—a registered broker in the sale and transfer of U.S.-manufactured defense electronics, according to the news release.

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"The majority of NAVTEC's customers were Indian government and military and defense-related agencies. Kohli was responsible for the day-to-day decision making and operations of NAVTEC" from November 2002 through March 2011, the news statement added. 

"As part of his job [with his employer], Kohli was involved in developing business opportunities with Indian military and defense-related government entities. Kohli did not reveal to his employer the full scope of his activities with NAVTEC, nor did he reveal his employment with the Maryland company to all of NAVTEC’s U.S.-based clients," the news release stated.

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Kohli has since admitted that he made a number of false statements during two separate background investigations by the Office of Personnel Management in relation to his security clearance to work for the defense contractor.

"Specifically, Kohli [had] minimized the nature and scope of his activities with NAVTEC and under oath [had] denied that he had any established foreign business contacts or associations with Indian government organizations," according to the Justice Department. 

And, in 2010, when Kohli was interviewed by FBI agents in relation to his son’s application for employment with the FBI, "Kohli minimized his son’s role with NAVTEC [and his own] contact with NAVTEC’s U.S. clients and Indian customers, and falsely stated that his wife ran NAVTEC. Kohli also lied about the purpose of his Indian travel, stating that his foreign travel was limited to matters involving his employment with the Maryland defense contractor and that he did not meet with Indian government officials," the Justice Department said.


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