Good morning, Washington. You would think nothing could surprise us anymore in the wake of the largest embezzlement scandal in our city’s history, but here we are again, sitting with mouths agape at the level of stupidity apparently coming from the direction of the Office of Tax and Revenue. If you haven’t yet heard, two employees at the Tivoli Square retail center on 14th Street NW in Columbia Heights alerted the authorities on Wednesday when they discovered two computer servers labeled “PROPERTY OF D.C. OFFICE OF TAX AND REVENUE” next to a commercial trash compactor in the alley behind the Ruby Tuesday. We know, we know, it sounds like a joke, but this really happened. After the Tivoli employees alerted the authorities, the FBI took custody of the servers yesterday to look for evidence related to the fraud case. Information available to the city indicates the two servers have not been used by the tax office for five years — but of course, the Harriette Walters and company embezzlement ring goes back much farther than that. Money quote (and hero of the week award) goes to Tivoli maintenance engineer Melvin Barnes, who told the Post: “At first, I was thinking, ‘Man, who’s putting this stuff here?’ ” Barnes said, referring to the boxes. “But when I saw the labels of the tax office, with all this stuff going on, I was like, ‘Uh oh.'” We have a feeling this is going to be one of those truth is stranger than fiction news days, kids. And from here, more questions: If everyone who was involved with the fraud case has been fired, then who did the server dumping?
Howard Official Accused of Theft: The District government isn’t the only institution dealing with a corruption scandal this morning. The Examiner reports that a Howard University bureaucrat has been charged with stealing nearly $34,000 in federal funds that were supposed to go to injured workers. Christina Bell, a former analyst at Howard’s workers’ compensation office, would face a prison term of up to 10 years if convicted.
Navy Yard Metro Renovations Down the Wire: The Post takes a look behind the scenes of the final push to get the Navy Yard Metro station ready to handle the increased capacity it will need when the Nationals stadium opens in April. Daniel LeDuc describes the station as looking far from complete, although the president of the company in charge of the construction says the renovations are back on schedule after several key delays.
Briefly Noted: D.C. Schools facing backlog of special education cases … 13 year-old girl escapes abduction in Montgomery County … Suspect in Falls Church sexual assault is a registered sex offender … Man convicted in beating death of this grandfather.
This Day in DCist: In 2007 we followed then new Police Chief Cathy Lanier as she made the rounds to address neighborhood groups, in 2006 we congratulated Tony Kornheiser on his new job with Monday Night Football, and in 2005 we got to the bottom of whether women really out number men in D.C. by a huge margin.
Photo by Mr. T in DC
