As many as ten employees of the Interior Department were disciplined or fired after an investigation into ethical lapses at the Minerals Management Service.

According to news reports, two employees were fired for accepting gifts and drugs and exchanging sex with energy industry representatives. One employee was reportedly demoted and the others received warning letters.

The scandal involved employees of the royalty-in-kind program at MMS. Inspector General Earl Devaney described a "culture of ethical failure" at the office.

Get the Story:
Minerals division workers punished (The Denver Post 11/22)
Interior punishes partying workers (The Washington Times 11/22)
Regulators fired, disciplined over gifts from oil firms (McClatchy Newspapers 11/22)
Interior Dept. Takes Action After Scandal (AP 11/21)
U.S. Govt workers punished in oil-sex scandal (Reuters 11/21)

OIG Reports:
Gregory W. Smith | MMS Oil Marketing Group - Lakewood | Federal Business Solutions Contracts

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