The Albright ruling came amid a firestorm of criticism and scrutiny aimed at the department, prompted in part by Albright’s original suit. Three investigations in three years were aimed at the department, all prompted by complaints lodged with the state’s fraud and abuse hotline, which allows government whistleblowers to anonymously report potential government abuses.
In November 2002, William Woodfin, DGIF’s director, was rebuked for questionable purchases, including high-end shotguns, a little-used ATV, and installation of extra cup holders in department trucks.
The next year, a high-ranking department official was chided for using state equipment for his private catering business, a business that was hired to cater several department events.
In documents obtained by The Virginian-Pilot, it was later revealed that in September 2004, department big-wigs ogled big African game on a $12,000 taxpayer-funded jaunt to Zimbabwe. The money was used to buy clothing, luggage and equipment for the 17-day trip.
Woodfin defended the trip in an agency newsletter, saying it gave the participants a better understanding of different hunting cultures, as well as insight into international poaching.
Then came more damaging revelations: department leaders regularly traveled to national conventions, and greatly exceeded their state-issued credit card limits.
Ironically, the credit card abuses were discovered in a set of documents identical to the ones Albright had requested, with one significant difference: while the records given to Albright were heavily redacted, the Pilot got clean copies.
The revelations led the department’s board chairman, Dan Hoffler, a Gov. Mark Warner appointee, to step down on March 18.
It was Woodfin’s turn to resign on May 24 upon release of the third investigation report. This report was more blunt than the other two. State Internal Auditor Merritt Cogswell suggested that the department should be overhauled.
One board member still didn’t get it “You’ve got trophies on your wall now,” said Oakton’s James Hazel. “I hope that’s enough.”
Bill Cochran, outdoor columnist for Roanoke.Com, said, “That topped the list of the 10 most stupid things said during the DGIF caper.”
And apparently it wasn’t enough. State police announced July 21 that it was ramping up a criminal investigation into the department.
— compiled in part from articles in The Virginian-Pilot.