Dale Stoffel
Encyclopedia
In Spring 2004, he alerted the Pentagon
to irregularities regarding the way his company was being compensated. The Ministry's method, routing payments through a "mysterious" Lebanese businessman, gave rise to his suspicions that Iraqi officials were receiving kickbacks. He also alleged that the Ministry was forcing him to use preferred sub-contractors. He described thousands of dollars in payments being delivered to American contracting offices in pizza boxes, pizza delivery
-style, and dead drop
payoffs in paper sacks dropped off throughout the Green Zone
. On May 20, 2004, Stoffel was granted limited immunity from prosecution by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
in a whistleblower
complaint.
By November, Stoffel was owed $24.7 million from the Ministry. His case was part of a larger trend involving middlemen and kickbacks in the Iraqi government and the rebuilding process.
He returned to the United States in November 2004. He sent the Pentagon a letter on December 3, 2004 outlining his concerns. He also met with Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum
, who wrote to Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
on Stoffel's behalf. He returned to Iraq in December. A short time later, he and his business partner Joseph Wemple were summoned to Camp Taji
in Taji, Iraq
to discuss the problem with British Brig. Gen. David Clements, who was deputy commander of the mission to train Iraqi troops, and the Lebanese businessman. After several days of discussion, Clements told the businessman to release the money.
, a car rammed theirs head-on. Two masked men jumped out and killed Wemple and Stoffel in a hail of bullets; the interpreter was not killed and went missing. Stoffel had been shot several times in the head and back, while Wemple was shot once through the head. A previously unknown group, Brigades of the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility through an online video. However, security experts doubted the claim and questioned whether the video was simply a ruse. The video described Stoffel as "CIA shadow director" and "close friend of George Bush".
His death raised questions about the integrity of the Iraqi reconstruction effort, which had been hampered by corruption. The Sunday Times
said that Stoffel's death "appeared all too predictable. He was an adventurer who seemed to have met his end at the hands of jihadists while engaged in one of the riskiest businesses on the planet. "
Following the attacks, CLI, Inc. left Iraq.
According of officials investigating his death, there is no evidence that the attack was related to his allegations of corruption. The murders remain unsolved. Stoffel's brother, who also worked for Wye Oak, received several death threats, warning him to stay away from Iraq.
In 2009, his wife, Barbara sued the Iraqi government for $25 million.
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
to irregularities regarding the way his company was being compensated. The Ministry's method, routing payments through a "mysterious" Lebanese businessman, gave rise to his suspicions that Iraqi officials were receiving kickbacks. He also alleged that the Ministry was forcing him to use preferred sub-contractors. He described thousands of dollars in payments being delivered to American contracting offices in pizza boxes, pizza delivery
Pizza delivery
Pizza delivery is a service in which a pizzeria delivers a pizza to a customer. Delivery is normally made with an automobile, motor scooter, or bicycle.- Ordering :...
-style, and dead drop
Dead drop
A dead drop or dead letter box is a method of espionage tradecraft used to pass items between two individuals by using a secret location and thus does not require them to meet directly. Using a dead drop permits a Case Officer and his Agent to exchange objects and information while maintaining...
payoffs in paper sacks dropped off throughout the Green Zone
Green Zone
The Green Zone is the most common name for the International Zone of Baghdad. It is a area of central Baghdad, Iraq, that was the governmental center of the Coalition Provisional Authority and remains the center of the international presence in the city...
. On May 20, 2004, Stoffel was granted limited immunity from prosecution by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
The Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction was created in October 2004 as the successor to the Coalition Provisional Authority Office of Inspector General . SIGIR is an independent government agency created by the Congress to provide oversight of the use – and potential...
in a whistleblower
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
complaint.
By November, Stoffel was owed $24.7 million from the Ministry. His case was part of a larger trend involving middlemen and kickbacks in the Iraqi government and the rebuilding process.
He returned to the United States in November 2004. He sent the Pentagon a letter on December 3, 2004 outlining his concerns. He also met with Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
Richard John "Rick" Santorum is a lawyer and a former United States Senator from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Santorum was the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference -making him the third-ranking Senate Republican from 2001 until his leave in 2007. Santorum is considered both a social...
, who wrote to Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
on Stoffel's behalf. He returned to Iraq in December. A short time later, he and his business partner Joseph Wemple were summoned to Camp Taji
Camp Taji
Camp Taji is a military installation, also known as Camp Cooke used by coalition forces near Taji or Al Taji , Iraq. The camp is located in a rural region approximately north of the city of Baghdad in the Baghdad Governorate.-History:...
in Taji, Iraq
Taji, Iraq
Taji, At Taji or Tajidiyah is a town approximately 20 miles north of the city of Baghdad, and is located in the Al-Faris district of the Salah ad Din Governorate. Taji is the location of a large U.S.-controlled military base.-History:...
to discuss the problem with British Brig. Gen. David Clements, who was deputy commander of the mission to train Iraqi troops, and the Lebanese businessman. After several days of discussion, Clements told the businessman to release the money.
Attack
On December 8, the vehicle carrying Stoffel, Wemple, and an interpreter was attacked. As the car was leaving Taji for BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, a car rammed theirs head-on. Two masked men jumped out and killed Wemple and Stoffel in a hail of bullets; the interpreter was not killed and went missing. Stoffel had been shot several times in the head and back, while Wemple was shot once through the head. A previously unknown group, Brigades of the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility through an online video. However, security experts doubted the claim and questioned whether the video was simply a ruse. The video described Stoffel as "CIA shadow director" and "close friend of George Bush".
His death raised questions about the integrity of the Iraqi reconstruction effort, which had been hampered by corruption. The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
said that Stoffel's death "appeared all too predictable. He was an adventurer who seemed to have met his end at the hands of jihadists while engaged in one of the riskiest businesses on the planet. "
Following the attacks, CLI, Inc. left Iraq.
According of officials investigating his death, there is no evidence that the attack was related to his allegations of corruption. The murders remain unsolved. Stoffel's brother, who also worked for Wye Oak, received several death threats, warning him to stay away from Iraq.
Investigations
In 2009, an investigation into high-level officials, at least partially spawned by Stoffel's 2004 allegations, was opened. The investigation, including the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, Justice Department, the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command, and other federal agencies investigated numerous instances of graft and bribery among the Iraqi reconstruction effort.In 2009, his wife, Barbara sued the Iraqi government for $25 million.