DOJ policies on 'parallel construction'

Sir/Madam,

Please see the attached response to your FOIA request. Please note, your request has been assigned tracking number EMRUFOIA040916.

Thank you,

MRU FOIA

Please see the attachment.

Mr. Best,

Good evening.

Please see attached letter, acknowledging your FOIA request.
Regards,
Joseph Carilli

Joseph F. Carilli, Jr.
Trial Attorney (General and Administrative Law)
United States Department of Justice
Executive Office for United States Trustees
Office of the General Counsel
441 G Street, N.W., Suite 6150
Washington, DC 20530
(202) 514-0738

A no responsive documents response.

A no responsive documents response.

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

Good morning,

Please find attached the COPS Office's final response letter to your FOIA request regarding parallel construction.

Chaun Eason

COPS FOIA Officer

Dear Mr. Best,

Please see attached.

Sincerely,
Randi Meth

Mr. Best,

Good evening.

Please see attached letter, responding to your FOIA request.
Regards,
Joseph Carilli

Joseph F. Carilli, Jr.
Trial Attorney (General and Administrative Law)
United States Department of Justice
Executive Office for United States Trustees
Office of the General Counsel
441 G Street, N.W., Suite 6150
Washington, DC 20530
(202) 514-0738

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

Mr. Best,

This is in reply to your email dated April 11, 2016, stating a request under the Freedom of Information Act for "[a]ll memoranda, training materials and official policies regarding "parallel construction" the act of recreating an investigative trail to obscure the original methods used."

Please be advised that a thorough search of the Commission's records has been conducted; however, no documents responsive to your request were located.
Regards,

Jeremy R. LaFrancois
Chief Administrative Counsel
Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
US Department of Justice
600 E Street, N.W., Suite 6002
Washington, D.C. 20579
Phone (202) 616-6975
Fax (202) 616-6993

Re: OJP FOIA No. 16-00247

Dear Mr. Best:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act request that you sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ Mail Referral Unit (MRU), forwarded your request, dated April 9, 2016, to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of the General Counsel, which was received in this office on April 11, 2016. A copy of your request is attached for your convenience.

The records you seek require a search in another OJP office and so your request falls within "unusual circumstances." See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B)(i)-(iii). Because of these unusual circumstances, we are extending the time limit to respond to your request beyond the ten additional days provided by the statute. We have not yet completed a search to determine whether there are records within the scope of your request. The time needed to process your request will necessarily depend on the complexity of our records search and on the volume and complexity of any records located. For your information, this Office assigns incoming requests to one of three tracks: simple, complex, or expedited. Each request is then handled on a first-in, first-out basis in relation to other requests in the same track. Simple requests usually receive a response in approximately one month, whereas complex requests necessarily take longer. At this time, your request has been assigned to the complex track. You may wish to narrow the scope of your request to limit the number of potentially responsive records or agree to an alternative time frame for processing, should records be located; or you may wish to await the completion of our records search to discuss either of these options.

Your request is assigned to Delores Johnson, FOIA Specialist, for processing. If you have any questions or wish to discuss reformulation or an alternative time frame for the processing of your request, or you may contact Ms. Johnson by telephone at (202) 307-6235, via e-mail at FOIAOJP@usdoj.gov<mailto:FOIAOJP@usdoj.gov>, you may write to this office at FOIAOJP, 810 7th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20531. Please include the above-referenced OJP FOIA number. Lastly, you may contact our FOIA Public Liaison at the above telephone number to discuss any aspect of your request.

Sincerely,

FOIAOJP

/s/

Re: OJP FOIA No. 16-00248

Dear Mr. Best:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act request that you sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ Mail Referral Unit (MRU), forwarded your request, dated April 9, 2016, to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of the General Counsel, which was received in this office on April 11, 2016. A copy of your request is attached for your convenience.

The records you seek require a search in another OJP office and so your request falls within "unusual circumstances." See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B)(i)-(iii). Because of these unusual circumstances, we are extending the time limit to respond to your request beyond the ten additional days provided by the statute. We have not yet completed a search to determine whether there are records within the scope of your request. The time needed to process your request will necessarily depend on the complexity of our records search and on the volume and complexity of any records located. For your information, this Office assigns incoming requests to one of three tracks: simple, complex, or expedited. Each request is then handled on a first-in, first-out basis in relation to other requests in the same track. Simple requests usually receive a response in approximately one month, whereas complex requests necessarily take longer. At this time, your request has been assigned to the complex track. You may wish to narrow the scope of your request to limit the number of potentially responsive records or agree to an alternative time frame for processing, should records be located; or you may wish to await the completion of our records search to discuss either of these options.

Your request is assigned to Delores Johnson, FOIA Specialist, for processing. If you have any questions or wish to discuss reformulation or an alternative time frame for the processing of your request, or you may contact Ms. Johnson by telephone at (202) 307-6235, via e-mail at FOIAOJP@usdoj.gov<mailto:FOIAOJP@usdoj.gov>, you may write to this office at FOIAOJP, 810 7th Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20531. Please include the above-referenced OJP FOIA number. Lastly, you may contact our FOIA Public Liaison at the above telephone number to discuss any aspect of your request.

Sincerely,

FOIAOJP

/s/

Re: OJP FOIA No. 16-00249

Dear Mr. Best:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act request that you sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ Mail Referral Unit (MRU), forwarded your request, dated April 9, 2016, to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of the General Counsel, which was received in this office on April 11, 2016. A copy of your request is attached for your convenience.

The records you seek require a search in another OJP office and so your request falls within "unusual circumstances." See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B)(i)-(iii). Because of these unusual circumstances, we are extending the time limit to respond to your request beyond the ten additional days provided by the statute. We have not yet completed a search to determine whether there are records within the scope of your request. The time needed to process your request will necessarily depend on the complexity of our records search and on the volume and complexity of any records located. For your information, this Office assigns incoming requests to one of three tracks: simple, complex, or expedited. Each request is then handled on a first-in, first-out basis in relation to other requests in the same track. Simple requests usually receive a response in approximately one month, whereas complex requests necessarily take longer. At this time, your request has been assigned to the complex track. You may wish to narrow the scope of your request to limit the number of potentially responsive records or agree to an alternative time frame for processing, should records be located; or you may wish to await the completion of our records search to discuss either of these options.

Your request is assigned to Delores Johnson, FOIA Specialist, for processing. If you have any questions or wish to discuss reformulation or an alternative time frame for the processing of your request, or you may contact Ms. Johnson by telephone at (202) 307-6235, via e-mail at FOIAOJP@usdoj.gov<mailto:FOIAOJP@usdoj.gov>, you may write to this office at FOIAOJP, 810 7th Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20531. Please include the above-referenced OJP FOIA number. Lastly, you may contact our FOIA Public Liaison at the above telephone number to discuss any aspect of your request.

Sincerely,

FOIAOJP

/s/

Re: OJP FOIA No. 16-00250

Dear Mr. Best:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act request that you sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ Mail Referral Unit (MRU), forwarded your request, dated April 9, 2016, to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of the General Counsel, which was received in this office on April 12, 2016. A copy of your request is attached for your convenience.

The records you seek require a search in another OJP office and so your request falls within "unusual circumstances." See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B)(i)-(iii). Because of these unusual circumstances, we are extending the time limit to respond to your request beyond the ten additional days provided by the statute. We have not yet completed a search to determine whether there are records within the scope of your request. The time needed to process your request will necessarily depend on the complexity of our records search and on the volume and complexity of any records located. For your information, this Office assigns incoming requests to one of three tracks: simple, complex, or expedited. Each request is then handled on a first-in, first-out basis in relation to other requests in the same track. Simple requests usually receive a response in approximately one month, whereas complex requests necessarily take longer. At this time, your request has been assigned to the complex track. You may wish to narrow the scope of your request to limit the number of potentially responsive records or agree to an alternative time frame for processing, should records be located; or you may wish to await the completion of our records search to discuss either of these options.

Your request is assigned to Delores Johnson, FOIA Specialist, for processing. If you have any questions or wish to discuss reformulation or an alternative time frame for the processing of your request, or you may contact Ms. Johnson by telephone at (202) 307-6235, via e-mail at FOIAOJP@usdoj.gov<mailto:FOIAOJP@usdoj.gov>, you may write to this office at FOIAOJP, 810 7th Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20531. Please include the above-referenced OJP FOIA number. Lastly, you may contact our FOIA Public Liaison at the above telephone number to discuss any aspect of your request.

Sincerely,

FOIAOJP

/s/

Michael Best
Dept. MR 25075
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

Re: FOIA/PA # 16-134

Dear Mr. Best:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your email dated April 9, 2016, to the Department of Justice, Mail Referral Unit (MRUFOIA) requesting, "All memoranda, training materials and official policies regarding "parallel construction" the act of recreating an investigative trail to obscure the original methods used." Our FOIA office received your Freedom of Information request on April 11, 2016.

We are unable to process your request as submitted and with this letter, it is closed administratively. Your request has been referred to the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for United States Attorneys. If you have any questions concerning your request, please contact:

Susan B. Gerson, Assistant Director, FOIA/Privacy Staff
Executive Office for United States Attorneys
Department of Justice
600 E Street, NW, Room 7300
Washington, DC 20530-0001
(202) 252-6020

If you are not satisfied with my response to this request, you may administratively appeal by writing to the Director, Office of Information Policy (OIP), United States Department of Justice, Suite 11050, 1425 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001, or you may submit an appeal through OIP's eFOIA portal at http://www.justice.gov/oip/efoia-portal.html. Please note that OIP is in the process of transitioning from its current eFOIA portal to the portal on FOIAonline. Please visit the link above for instructions for submitting an appeal electronically. Your appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within 60 days of the date of my response to your request. If you submit your appeal by mail, both the letter and the envelope should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal."

Sincerely,

Arnetta Mallory
Arnetta Mallory
Government Information Specialist

Michael Best
Dept. MR 25075
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

Re: FOIA/PA # 16-135

Dear Mr. Best:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your email dated April 9, 2016, to the Department of Justice, Mail Referral Unit (MRUFOIA) requesting, "Records mentioning Dr. Alexander Theodore Shulgin AKA Alexander Shulgin AKA Dr. Shulgin AKA Sasha AKA Sasha Shulgin (June 17, 1925 - June 2, 2014), who was an American medicinal chemist, biochemist, pharmacologist, psychopharmacologist, and author. He is credited with introducing MDMA (ecstasy) to psychologists in the late 1970s for psychopharmaceutical use and for the discovery, synthesis and personal bioassay of over 230 psychoactive compounds for their psychedelic and entactogenic potential. In 1991 and 1997, he and his wife Ann Shulgin authored the books PIHKAL and TIHKAL (standing for Phenethylamines and Tryptamines I Have Known And Loved). He had relationships with various law enforcement components, including DEA." Our FOIA office received your Freedom of Information request on April 11, 2016.

Created by the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act in March 2006, the National Security Division (NSD) formally began operations on October 2, 2006. The NSD consolidated the national security components of the Department of Justice under a new Assistant Attorney General (the AAG for National Security). These components included the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review (now the Office of Intelligence) and the Criminal Division's Counterterrorism and Counterespionage Sections. The NSD also includes a new Law and Policy office responsible for providing legal assistance and for formulating legislative initiatives on matters related to national security law and policy. These organizational changes reinforce the Department's efforts to prevent terrorism and other threats to national security. In addition, the AAG for National Security acts as the Department's liaison with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense, and other intelligence community agencies in order to improve coordination against terrorism and other threats to national security.

We are unable to process your request as submitted and with this letter, it is closed administratively.

If you are not satisfied with my response to this request, you may administratively appeal by writing to the Director, Office of Information Policy (OIP), United States Department of Justice, Suite 11050, 1425 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001, or you may submit an appeal through OIP's eFOIA portal at http://www.justice.gov/oip/efoia-portal.html. Please note that OIP is in the process of transitioning from its current eFOIA portal to the portal on FOIAonline. Please visit the link above for instructions for submitting an appeal electronically. Your appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within 60 days of the date of my response to your request. If you submit your appeal by mail, both the letter and the envelope should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal."

Sincerely,

Arnetta Mallory
Arnetta Mallory
Government Information Specialist

Michael Best
Dept. MR 25075
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144

Re: FOIA/PA # 16-135

Dear Mr. Best:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your email dated April 9, 2016, to the Department of Justice, Mail Referral Unit (MRUFOIA) requesting, "Records relating to Joseph Medicine Crow-High Bird AKA Joseph Medicine Crow (October 27, 1913 - April 3, 2016), who was the last living war chief of the Crow Tribe of Montana and a renowned Native American historian and anthropologist. His death has been widely reported. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/05/us/joseph-medicine-crow-tribal-war-chief-and-historian-dies-at-102.html." Our FOIA office received your Freedom of Information request on April 11, 2016.

Created by the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act in March 2006, the National Security Division (NSD) formally began operations on October 2, 2006. The NSD consolidated the national security components of the Department of Justice under a new Assistant Attorney General (the AAG for National Security). These components included the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review (now the Office of Intelligence) and the Criminal Division's Counterterrorism and Counterespionage Sections. The NSD also includes a new Law and Policy office responsible for providing legal assistance and for formulating legislative initiatives on matters related to national security law and policy. These organizational changes reinforce the Department's efforts to prevent terrorism and other threats to national security. In addition, the AAG for National Security acts as the Department's liaison with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense, and other intelligence community agencies in order to improve coordination against terrorism and other threats to national security.

We are unable to process your request as submitted and with this letter, it is closed administratively.

If you are not satisfied with my response to this request, you may administratively appeal by writing to the Director, Office of Information Policy (OIP), United States Department of Justice, Suite 11050, 1425 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001, or you may submit an appeal through OIP's eFOIA portal at http://www.justice.gov/oip/efoia-portal.html. Please note that OIP is in the process of transitioning from its current eFOIA portal to the portal on FOIAonline. Please visit the link above for instructions for submitting an appeal electronically. Your appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within 60 days of the date of my response to your request. If you submit your appeal by mail, both the letter and the envelope should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal."

Sincerely,

Arnetta Mallory
Arnetta Mallory
Government Information Specialist

Please see the attached, which is this Office's response to your request. If you have any

questions, please contact the FOIA/PA Unit at 202-616-0307[X] for further assistance.

Thank you,

FOIA/PA Unit

Criminal Division

U.S. Department of Justice

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d280c2b93b)
* Tracking Number: DOJ-2016-002490
* Requester Name: Michael Best
* Date Submitted: 04/11/2016
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: Parallel construction

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d280c2b977)
* Tracking Number: DOJ-2016-002491
* Requester Name: Michael Best
* Date Submitted: 04/11/2016
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: parallel construction

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d280c2b986)
* Tracking Number: DOJ-2016-002492
* Requester Name: Michael Best
* Date Submitted: 04/11/2016
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: parallel construction

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d280c2b9aa)
* Tracking Number: DOJ-2016-002493
* Requester Name: Michael Best
* Date Submitted: 04/11/2016
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: parallel construction

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d280c2b9d0)
* Tracking Number: DOJ-2016-002494
* Requester Name: Michael Best
* Date Submitted: 04/11/2016
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: parallel construction

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d280c2b9e7)
* Tracking Number: DOJ-2016-002495
* Requester Name: Michael Best
* Date Submitted: 04/11/2016
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: parallel construction

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d280c2b9ee)
* Tracking Number: DOJ-2016-002496
* Requester Name: Michael Best
* Date Submitted: 04/11/2016
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: parallel construction

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

Attached is OPR's response to FOIA request F16-00065.

_______________________________________________________________
This email is sent from an unmonitored mailbox that does not accept incoming mail.
Please do not reply or send email to this address.

Please see attached.

Sarah Lu
Department of Justice, ENRD
Law and Policy Section
P.O. Box 7415
Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-7415
T (202) 514-0424
F (202) 514-4231
sarah.lu@usdoj.gov<mailto:kelly.yamashita@usdoj.gov>

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

Dear Mr. Best:
Attached is the OIG's final response to your FOIA request.
Thanks,
Office of the General Counsel/OIG Department of Justice

Dear Mr. Best:
Attached is the OIG's final response to your FOIA request.
Thanks,
Office of the General Counsel/OIG Department of Justice

Hello:

Attached is the OIG's response to your FOIA request.

Thanks.

A no responsive documents response.

Dear Mr. Best:

Attached, please find the acknowledgement letter for your FOIA request that was assigned tracking number OLC FY16-073.

Sincerely,
Melissa Golden, Esq.
Lead Paralegal and FOIA Specialist
Office of Legal Counsel
Department of Justice
Please note my new last name (formerly Kassier)

Good Afternoon:

Attached is CRS response to your FOIA request. Thank you.

Irene Kho
FOIA Officer

See Attachment.

Dear Mr. Best,

I am responding on behalf of the Justice Management Division (JMD) of the Department of Justice (Department or DOJ) to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated May 2, 2016, asking for "All memoranda, training materials and official policies regarding "parallel construction" the act of recreating an investigative trail to obscure the original methods used."

We performed a search of the JMD correspondence management system and the DOJ Directives Management System (of Department-wide orders and policies) for the term "parallel construction," and found no responsive records. You have not provided any information indicating why you believe JMD would maintain records relating to the information you are seeking. JMD serves as the management arm of the Department. It provides assistance to senior management officials relating to organization, management and administration. JMD also provides administrative support services, such as personnel, accounting, payroll, procurement, budget, and facilities and property management to the Offices, Boards and Divisions of the Department. JMD does not investigate or litigate criminal or civil charges or actions against individuals, or enforcement matters. Given JMD's functions, we have no reason to believe JMD has records responsive to your request. Therefore, no further search has been performed. Unless you are able to provide more information about how the records might relate to JMD's functions, JMD will not be taking any further action on this request. Please respond by May 27, 2016, if you have further information to provide.

Sincerely,

Karen McFadden
FOIA Contact
Justice Management Division

Attached is an acknowledgement and interim response by this Office to the above-referenced request.

Mr. Best

Attached is a letter and document in response to your FOIA request to this office.

Delores Johnson
Contract Paralegal Specialist
Office of the General Counsel
Office of Justice Programs
Department of Justice

Attached is an interim response by this Office to the above-referenced request.

Attached is this Office's final response to the above-referenced request.

A fix is required to perfect the request.

A no responsive documents response.

A no responsive documents response.

Good afternoon:

Attached, please find the Tax Division's acknowledgement of your Freedom of Information Act request dated April 11, 2016, along with the clarification sheet for completion.

Sincerely,
Debbie J. Fitzgerald
Legal Assistant
U.S. Department of Justice
Tax Division, CTS - Eastern

November 30, 2016

Mr. Michael Best

411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

Re: Freedom of Information Act Request Number: 2016-058

Dear Mr. Best:

This correspondence is in response to your Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request dated April 7, 2016 and received in the
Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA) on April 11, 2016. I apologize for
the delay in responding to you but our office is dealing with a backlog
of requests as we continue to manage the Department's Clemency
Initiative. In the future, please address all FOIA related requests to
this office at PardonAttorneyFOIA@usdoj.gov
<mailto:PardonAttorneyFOIA@usdoj.gov> .

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552 et
seq., you requested all memoranda, training materials and official
policies regarding "parallel construction", which is known as a law
enforcement process of building a parallel-or separate-evidentiary
basis for a criminal investigation in order to conceal how the
investigation actually began.

Please be advised that the Office of the Pardon Attorney assists the
President of the United States in the exercise of his constitutional
executive clemency power, so your inquiry falls outside of the scope of
our work. However, in response to your correspondence, I searched the
official files of this office and determined that we do not have any
documents responsive to your request. As a result, we have no
documents to produce and there has been no fee assessed for the search
of our records.

For your information, Congress excluded three discrete categories of
law enforcement and national security records from the requirements of
the FOIA. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(c). This response is limited to those
records that are subject to the requirements of the FOIA. This is a
standard notification that is given to all our requesters and should
not be taken as an indication that excluded records do, or do not,
exist.

If you are not satisfied with my final response to this request, you
may administratively appeal by writing to the Director, Office of
Information Policy (OIP), United States Department of Justice, Suite
11050, 1425 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001, or you may
submit an appeal through OIP's FOIAonline portal by creating an account
on the following web site:
https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/home
<https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/home> . Your
appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within 60 days
of the date of my response to your request. If you submit your appeal
by mail, both the letter and the envelope should be clearly marked
"Freedom of Information Act Appeal."

Sincerely,

William N. Taylor II

Executive Officer

Office of the Pardon Attorney

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

A no responsive documents response.

Dear Mr. Best,

Please see the attached, which is this Office's response to your request. If you have any questions, please contact the FOIA/PA Unit at 202-616-0307 for further assistance.

Thank you,

FOIA/PA Unit
Criminal Division
U.S. Department of Justice