Former FBI Agent Sentenced for Falsifying Background Check Information

Former FBI agent and Fort Lauderdale resident was sentenced today for falsifying background check interviews that he performed for potential employees of government entities.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jay H. Donly, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General (DHS-OIG), made the announcement.

John McDonough, 69, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr., to two years of probation and ten days of intermittent confinement in prison. On August 19, 2014, John McDonough pled guilty to one count of knowingly falsifying records in federal investigations, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1519. McDonough, a former FBI agent, worked as an independent contractor performing background check investigations for potential employees of government entities. During a quality control check, it was discovered that McDonough had falsified background check interviews for potential employees of Customs and Border Protection.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of DHS-OIG and the assistance provided by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Snyder.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.