by means of Robert Burns, The associated Press 12:33 p.m. EST November 22, 2014
Rear Adm. Timothy M. Giardina(picture: Navy, AP)
WASHINGTON — The admiral fired ultimate 12 months as No. 2 commander of U.S. nuclear forces may additionally have made his own counterfeit $500 poker chips with paint and stickers to feed a gambling dependancy that at last saw him banned from a whole network of casinos, in response to a criminal investigative record got through The associated Press.
however Rear Adm. Timothy M. Giardina's elimination as deputy head of U.S. Strategic Command turned into introduced last year, proof of his feasible role in manufacturing the counterfeit chips has no longer in the past been revealed. Investigators mentioned they found his DNA on the underside of an adhesive sticky label used to alter actual $1 poker chips to make them look like $500 chips.
Nor had the Navy disclosed how substantially he gambled.
The case is amongst a lot of embarrassing setbacks for the nuclear force. Disciplinary problems, safety flaws, weak morale and leadership lapses documented via The associated Press over the past two years induced protection Secretary Chuck Hagel on Nov. 14 to announce good-to-bottom changes in how the nuclear force is managed so that it will can charge as much as $10 billion.
The information obtained by using the AP beneath the freedom of information Act demonstrate Giardina become a habitual poker player, spending a complete of 1,096 hours — or a typical of 15 hours per week — on the tables at the Horseshoe casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa, within the 18 months earlier than being caught the usage of three phony chips in June 2013.
He became such a familiar determine at the on line casino, throughout the Missouri River from his workplace near Omaha, Nebraska, that some there knew him as "Navy Tim." but they may additionally now not have accepted he became a three-celebrity admiral and 2d-in-can charge at Strategic Command, the defense force's nuclear war-combating headquarters. Strategic Command additionally performs key roles in missile defense, cyberdefense, space operations and other features.
A profession submarine officer, Giardina is a 1979 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Such became Giardina's affection for poker that even after he was caught he "persevered to are available and gamble on a daily foundation" at Harrah's casino, also found in Council Bluffs, according to an account with the aid of an Iowa Division of crook Investigation agent that became grew to become over to the Naval crook Investigative provider after NCIS took over the case in August 2013.
On July 18 Giardina become banned from each the Horseshoe and Harrah's for 90 days, however he returned at the least twice to play poker at the Horseshoe before the ban expired. The second time, in October, he turned into given a lifetime ban from all gambling organisations run through the Horseshoe's owner, Caesar's enjoyment Corp.
The file included Giardina's remarks to a casino safety agent concerning the polygraphs given at Strategic Command to officers holding security clearances.
"(What) they're basically attempting to do is find out in case you obtained, you know, if you are having intercourse with animals or some thing truly crazy otherwise you've received this wild life that you simply may well be blackmailed into giving militia secrets out," he turned into quoted as saying.
At Strategic Command, Giardina became privy to enormously delicate country wide protection secrets and techniques. prison gambling via Strategic Command officers with protection clearances isn't prohibited or restricted by way of policy, despite the fact if they incur excessive debt they are required to file it, in response to the command's chief spokeswoman, Navy Capt. Pamela Kunze.
Six days after he acquired the lifetime Caesar's ban, Giardina changed into kicked out of the Hollywood on line casino at Kansas Speedway in Kansas metropolis, Kansas, in keeping with the NCIS records that gave no cause of that expulsion. That on line casino isn't a Caesar's property.
The state investigator's report also pointed out a evaluate of surveillance footage revealed "unusual behaviors" by Giardina at the Horseshoe.
"Giardina was followed taking cigarette butts out of public ash trays and smoking them," it mentioned.
Giardina, who is still on the Navy payroll as a workforce officer in Washington, changed into not ever charged with counterfeiting. instead he changed into found responsible in may additionally 2014 of two counts of habits unbecoming an officer — lying to an investigator and passing false playing chips. He turned into given a written reprimand and ordered to forfeit $four,000 in pay.
The Navy selected not to pursue a court martial because they were unclear they could get a conviction with the proof they had, officials stated.
In early September 2013 Giardina became quietly suspended from his put up at Strategic Command, which he had assumed in December 2011. One month later he was fired and reduced in rank from three-superstar to 2-star admiral.
Giardina didn't respond to an AP e-mail request Friday for touch upon the investigation report. In may additionally, after the Navy announced his punishment, Giardina told the AP he had no remark.
NCIS denied AP's common request for the investigation facts however released them this month after granting an AP appeal.
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