Public Corruption Hotline

(804) 627-4597

On February 1, 1999, Special Agent in Charge Donald W. Thompson, Jr., announced the creation of a Public Corruption Hotline. This number is designated as a way for the citizens in the Richmond area to contact the FBI with any information regarding possible public corruption in the Richmond area. Below is the text of SAC Thompson's announcement.

"Public service, at all levels . . . Federal, state, and local, is a sacred trust between public servants and the citizens, whom they have been elected or appointed to serve. The foundation of good government is the integrity and lawfulness of those who have been entrusted with civic responsibilities. When a public official breaches that sacred trust by illegally exploiting their position for personal gain, confidence in responsible government suffers and promoted is the belief that those in government are in it for themselves only and not because they wish to serve and make a difference. The vast majority of our pubic servants are, in fact, law abiding and honest, and I do want to emphasize that point. However, it only takes a few to undermine the system.

Investigations of public corruption and fraud are among the most sensitive and important matters the FBI handles. Much is at stake for the public official who is the focus of the investigation and much is at stake in maintaining and restoring the people's trust in our public institutions. When we receive allegations that indicate a public servant has violated his trust or has abused their position in violation of Federal law, we will respond aggressively and thoroughly.

The FBI has a long history of investigating public corruption and has done so with great success, often with the assistance of state and local law enforcement agencies. During fiscal year 1997, 46 Federal officials, 59 state officials, and 270 local officials were convicted nationwide in public corruption cases as a result of FBI investigations. Among these numbers were elected officials, judges, appointed government employees, and even law enforcement personnel. That same year, the FBI opened 761 public corruption investigations and that number increased in 1998 to 836 cases.

It is because the FBI takes these matters so seriously, that today we are communicating our commitment to address public corruption issues and to announce a new means for citizens to join with us ridding our governmental institutions of corruption when and where it might arise. The Richmond FBI Office has established a special phone line to receive information from the public about possible public corruption. We are specifically interested in information that a public official has asked for or received something of value in return for their promising or actually performing an official act. That number is (804) 627-4597.

Our success in dealing with this, or for that matter, with any criminal activity, largely relies upon the help we receive from concerned and involved citizens. We will treat this information in confidence and will pursue all credible allegations with energy and responsibility."