“If you mess up, fess up.” 

Simple words with a powerful message. Holy Family University senior Criminal Justice major Greg Walton (a projected December 2024 graduate) hopes soon to carry this priceless advice into a career with the federal government.

The wisdom was imparted by Erik Saracino, a Special Agent (SA) at NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) New Jersey Post of Duty.

In his role as an 1811 (criminal investigators who have the statutory authority to carry firearms, conduct searches and seizures, and make arrests), SA Saracino has spent the past 14 years as a “space cop,” investigating allegations of crime, cyber-crime, fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct that impact NASA programs, projects, operations, and resources from Delaware to Maine, west of Pittsburgh.

The self-admitted “fraud nerd” recently took Walton under his wing in an eye-opening, NASA-approved internship that had Walton in the weeds of the internet, searching out red flags that would identify individuals who had been appropriated federal dollars through NASA for innovative research projects but who were using the funds for personal gain.

As a Special Agent in the Office of Investigations (OI), Saracino refers his findings either to the Department of Justice for prosecution or to NASA management for action. Through his efforts to reduce NASA’s vulnerability to criminal activity, he identifies crime indicators and recommends effective measures for NASA management.

The internship gave Walton a hands-on opportunity not only to learn investigative techniques to identify fraud indicators but also a chance to speak with an experienced Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) who is responsible for prosecuting investigative findings referred by NASA OIG and other federal agencies. The discussion focused on extracting the significant details unearthed in the fraud investigations and methods used to present the evidence in court. The meeting also provided Walton with helpful tips to keep in mind when formally presenting an investigation for criminal or civil prosecution. He also learned how to safely and appropriately handle and fire a firearm, and the importance of collaboration in joint cases with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), among more than 50 federal agencies that employ criminal investigators.

“Working with Mr. Saracino was amazing,” Walton said of his introduction to some pretty incredible fact-finding missions. “He is a really awesome person, and I learned so much from him. He loves his job, and he is all in. I would knock on his door first thing in the morning, and he would scream out ‘come in because he was already diving into an investigation. The main thing I learned was the importance of being honest with any mistakes and reporting them to the attorney. If you are the lead criminal investigator, you can be called to testify to your evidence in court, so you need to honestly report all of your findings to the prosecutors so that they are not caught off guard and are as thoroughly prepared as possible.”

“Unfortunately, fraud never goes away,” said SA Saracino, who also serves as an adjunct instructor for the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s (CIGIE) Training Institute. “Fraudsters just create new and innovative ways to defraud the government, and it’s a shame because it is the federal taxpayers who lose out. We have been extremely busy. If people are applying for federal dollars for research through NASA (NASA awards grants in excess of $600 million annually), they are often also applying to the Air Force, Army, Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation. And this is why, as an 1811, I often team up with different agencies in criminal and civil investigations. NASA disperses a great deal of money to universities and to the small business community for the development of new and innovative technology, so I am involved with any misconduct that has a NASA nexus. A lot of the people that we catch and prosecute are highly educated, but often their egos and greed get the best of them. I’ll never forget when I heard a judge say to one of the fraudsters, ‘We have all lost out on all the good things your great mind could have brought to the table. You could have done something great for society and the world.’ That statement really hit home for me.”

If successfully criminally prosecuted for wire fraud or investment and securities fraud, the fraudster could face jail time and restitution. 

“There is a huge uptick in jobs related to cybercrime, and data analytics rooted in Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning are quickly gaining traction in capability, accessibility, and deployment,” SA Saracino said. “As this new wave of technology evolves, criminals lurk in the shadows, designing, refining, and perfecting various tactics to defraud the federal government and the American taxpayer. There are so many opportunities out there in federal criminal investigation for college graduates. More and more agencies are looking for cybersecurity experts with law enforcement backgrounds.”

In fact, NASA OIG recently created the Office of Data Analytics Program (ODA) which is responsible for developing, coordinating, conducting, and overseeing data analytic research of NASA’s programs and operations. Specifically, ODA delivers high-quality, predicative data analytics, statistical sampling, data mining, data visualizations, big data analysis, and other advanced statistical and information technology efforts in the detection and deterrence of fraud, waste, and abuse.

This is why Saracino makes great efforts and takes great pride in mentoring students, like Walton, who have a love for criminal justice and similar career aspirations.

“Greg was really into it and had a motivation from day one,” he said. “I give him high marks for his demeanor, work ethic, and attitude, and it was refreshing to see. He has patience and persistence, the ability to work well with others, to be a leader when called upon. My advice to him was to hone in on one program, learn it inside and out, and become a subject matter expert. Then you can branch out to other agency interests and become a well-rounded investigator. There were a lot of people in my life who were mentors and helped to steer me on a path. I am so happy to give back. I want to help those who want to help themselves. I think Greg is going to do good things.”

Saracino’s first intern recently accepted a Criminal Investigator position with the United States Secret Service, and Walton is hopeful that, as the second intern, he will land a job, perhaps with HSI investigations.

“I have loved every semester I have been at Holy Family,” Walton said, who will be working with the Wildwood Police this summer to further bolster his resume. “Every class that I have taken with Dr. (Spencer) Hochstetler has been awesome, and every class, in general, has been cool. I have learned a lot, and I think that Holy Family has definitely prepared me to apply what I have learned in the field. I certainly didn’t expect to intern with NASA OI, but I am grateful that I did. I hope when I am working, I will be able to be like Mr. Saracino and be able to build a rapport with people. I am so glad I was able to make that connection with him. I consider myself very lucky.”

Learn more at Holy Family University. Holy Family University is a private institution in the Catholic tradition with campus locations in Philadelphia and Newtown.