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B-270431 1 (1996-06-10)

handle is hein.gao/gaocrptadyp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Comptroller General of the United States Washington, D.C. 20548 Decision Matter of: Barbara Cox File: B-270431 Date: June 10, 1996 DIGEST Where member's spouse submits a travel claim, which is settled and paid, and then submits a supplemental claim which is fraudulent, the prior claim which was settled is not subject to the tainted day rule, and the second claim should be denied. DECISION The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), Columbus Center, has requested our decision regarding the proper action to be taken following the submission of a fraudulent claim for travel expenses by Barbara Cox, the spouse of a Navy member. Mrs. Cox's husband is stationed at the Naval Station, Rota, Spain. On March 30, 1994, travel orders were issued for Mrs. Cox to travel to Landstuhl, Germany, for outpatient medical treatment. She was paid a travel advance of $2,560 and departed Spain on April 18, 1994, and returned on May 25, 1994. On August 15, 1994, she submitted her travel claim listing various amounts for some meals during the period. The total for meals was $553.37. Following review, her claim was approved in the amount of $1,099.76, leaving an outstanding balance from her travel advance of $1,460.24, to be collected. She was accordingly notified that she owed that amount. Subsequently, Mrs. Cox submitted a second supplemental claim in which she listed $12 for every breakfast and lunch during the period and $20 for every dinner, totaling $44 per day, the maximum allowable. Upon receipt of the second claim, the Office of Command Investigations (OCI) was alerted to the possibility of a fraudulent claim. Following an investigation, OCI found the second claim to be fraudulent and DFAS agreed with such a finding. The matter was submitted to our Office because the disbursing officer questioned whether the submission of the second claim tainted the entire claim so that the travel advance of $2,560 should be recouped or, since the first claim had been approved, only $1,460.24 need be recouped. 114964