My story is simple-I was just an FBI Agent doing his job
I always enjoyed the unique application of existing federal criminal statutes (Title 18, United States Code) to my white-collar crime cases. I was lucky in that I had a supervisor and office administrators and an Assistant United States Attorney who supported my approach. As unusual cases developed, I had a knack for getting the job done, one way or another. The same applied to my first Diploma Mill bust, and those that followed.
Operation Diploma Scam (DIPSCAM)
DIPSCAM was a series of separate investigations conducted by the Charlotte, NC Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1980-1991. DipScam began from the initial investigation of Southeastern University, Greenville, SC in 1980, and evolved into multiple investigations of diploma mills throughout the Untied States and abroad. During DipScam, 40 diplomas with transcripts were purchased; 16 federal search warrants were executed; 19 Federal Grand Jury indictments were returned, 40 schools were dismantled, and we obtained over 20 convictions. The FBI identified over 12,500 “graduates” of these institutions from school records, which included federal, state, and county employees. Furthermore, seized school records indicated many “graduates” were employed in business, education, law enforcement, in addition to the medical field.
In several investigations the FBI joined forces with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service to complete other aspects of these cases. Information gained during each of these investigations was the subject of hearings by several Congressional committees.
Opened more than 75 Separate Investigations
These hearings were by the Subcommittee on Housing and Consumer Interests of the Select Committee on Aging (Senator Claude Pepper), 12/11/85, Fraudulent Credentials in which a prior DipScam defendant was brought by the U.S. Marshals from federal prison to testify at this hearing. Previously, this witness operated Southwestern University, Tucson, AZ and Columbus, OH, and grossed over $2,000,000. Prior to these hearings, and to prove how easily it could be done, committee investigators purchased a Ph.D. from a California Diploma Mill for Senator Claude Pepper, thus he was now “Dr. Pepper.”
The FBI has primary jurisdiction regarding Fraud by Wire, but the U.S. Postal Service had primary jurisdiction on Mail Fraud. All Diploma Mill operators use the interstate phones, fax, (now Internet), and mails. However, the sheer use of the U.S. Mails is a violation-the mail matter does have to cross a state line. Over the 11 years of DipScam, I opened more than 75 separate investigations as Fraud by Wire cases, with Mail Fraud as my second offence. As the facts of each case were developed, violations of other statutes included aid & abet; conspiracy; obstruction of justice (destroying evidence after Federal Grand Jury Subpoena was served), and others.
Initially, the Assistant United States Attorney would not allow me to use a fake name, thus I had to use my name and home address. However, as our success at Charlotte became better known, I was allowed to use other names, addresses, and I set up a front company at a mail drop. I used thus purported business, Accounting Serviced Limited, to both order degrees and for verification of diplomas to employer.
How Many "Degrees" Do You Have?
During DipScam I purchased 10 Bachelor's degrees, 19 Master's degrees, and 4 Doctorates, in addition to 2 Medical diplomas for myself. I also obtained 5 diplomas and Rabbinical Ordinations for 6 other Agents (both male and female) who assisted me in my cases. After DipScam, I continue to investigate Diploma Mills, so far, I have purchased 9 counterfeit diplomas (mainly MBA's) in other situations which included both counterfeit diplomas and transcripts on legitimate accredited colleges and universities, in addition to 3 others from diploma mills via the Internet, as recently as March 2009. Also, AACRAO gave me a budget for purchase of counterfeit diplomas and transcripts two years ago when conducting research for later book, Counterfeit Diplomas and Transcripts. In this regard, I purchased counterfeit diplomas and transcripts in names of the University of Florida; St. Leo University; Stetson University; University of Oregon, and Johns Hopkins University, all from different counterfeit operations
Still Out There
So, even today, I still do my personal investigations of diploma mills with the help of friends and colleagues (including Ric Walston, John Bear, George Gollin, Alan Contreras, and a world wide network of others) who sometimes email me various leads to diploma mills. So, heads up to you Diploma Mill operators, I'm still out there.
Readers Responses:
Certainly “Dr.” “Dr.” “Dr.” etc. Ezell has more “degrees” than anyone I know. Seriously, I wish to express my appreciation to Agent Ezell for the work he did with the FBI in busting diploma mills. His work has gone a long way to making a sharp distinction between diploma mills and legitimate schools that operate through the distance-learning mode. - Ric Walston
Thank you Agent Ezell for drawing our attention to the fact that many bogus groups out there would rob us financially and educationally. - Carmen C. DiCello
Agent Ezell's investigative work, which started nearly 30 years ago, is as timely and necessary today as it was when it began. - Eric Odell-Hein
There are many bogus groups who claim to be schools, but are just money grabbers who sell diplomas. Bravo to Allen Ezell! - John Thornton
In a day and age where integrity is constantly in question, I am glad to see someone take the time to monitor these fly-by-night diploma mills. - Brad Stewart
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