This e-mail just in. The names have been changed.

Here's a classic JAG railroad story. I am a former Navy nuclear submarine lieutenant and I was a character witness for a guy (EM2 White Hat) accused of possessing and selling drugs. I don't see how anyone with a brain can convict this guy based on the word of a guy making a plea bargain. Submarine Group 2 public affairs released a made up story about how Naval Criminal Investigative Service busted a Navy-wide drug ring. NCIS caught one guy (MM1 Watertight Door) and they made him a deal that if he named some names they would go easier on him. Submarine Group TWO had to say something to explain why NCIS let Door, a nuclear mechanic, stay on his submarine for two years. I have a feeling there are many other innocent men in jail because of NCIS and JAG corruption. Here is the story:

For two years the Navy permitted a sailor to operate a nuclear reactor on board a submarine knowing full well that this individual was both using and trafficking illegal drugs, endangering the safety of the ship, the crew and the surrounding civilian population. Your state has a Naval base with nuclear powered ships, and that is why I felt you might find the information I have to offer pertinent.
Two years ago Machinist Mate First Class W.T. Door was arrested by Base Police when he attempted to scale a security fence to get back on base. A subsequent search of his person found several different illegal drugs. A follow-on urinalysis also found several types of illicit drugs in his system. Rather than face jail time and a dishonorable discharge (due to the Navy’s Zero Tolerance Program for substance abuse), the NCIS offered him a deal if he helped them to catch a drug dealer that W.T. Door claimed he knew, and that NCIS had been attempting to catch for some time.

After an extensive and fruitless investigation which revealed nothing more than that W.T. Door had no information to offer after all, he was offered one final deal: if he cooperated with NCIS in netting as many sailors as possible using drugs, he would have all the charges against him dropped and he would be administratively, rather than dishonorably, separated from the Navy. He took the deal and was returned to his command, the USS PITTSBURG, where he continued to use and sell drugs for two years. During that time the USS PITTSBURG was sent overseas to conduct wartime operations, and made numerous port calls in foreign cities.

I would like to re-emphasize that Petty Officer W.T. Door operates a nuclear reactor, and during this two-year period he was frequently under the influence of drugs while operating. This was with the NCIS’s explicit permission in order to facilitate their goal of capturing as many sailors as possible using drugs, showing wanton disregard for the safety risks involved. This fact is extensively documented through the NCIS’s own wiretap, photograph and video evidence from the investigation.

This information came to me from a colleague on board my own ship. I feel it is my duty and responsibility to expose this gross violation of the public trust.

Signed.

A concerned Lieutenant