Sam Pierce

Good afternoon,

The FBI has received your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy (FOIPA) request and it will be forwarded to Initial Processing for review. Your request will be processed under the provisions of FOIPA and a response will be mailed to you at a later date.

Requests for fee waivers and expedited processing will be addressed once your request has been assigned an FOIPA request number. You will receive written notification of the FBI’s decision.

Information regarding the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy is available at http://www.fbi.gov<http://www.fbi.gov>/ or http://www.fbi.gov/foia/<http://www.fbi.goiv/foia/>. If you require additional assistance please contact the Public Information Officer.

Thank you,

Holly Early
Public Liaison/GIS
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391/4997
E-mail: foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov>
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia

Please check the status of your request online at http://www.fbi.gov/foia by clicking on the CHECK STATUS OF YOUR FOI/PA REQUEST under the FOIA INDEX located on the right side of the page. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

Dear Mr. Best,

Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps, and follow the instructions below.

Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request

If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-0] please enter [1195846-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-1] please enter [1195846-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>.

FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- LAST UPDATED ON December 28, 2016

Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]

FOIPA:

Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:

FOIPA:

1234567-000

Case Type:

FOIPA

Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)

The FBI’s FOIPA Program is searching the FBI’s indices for potentially responsive documents.

You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.
NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.

Thank you,

Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391/4997
E-mail: foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov>
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

Dear Mr. Best,
We have received your request for an estimated date of completion. Requests are processed in the order in which they are received through our multi-track processing system, and the FBI receives a voluminous amount of requests on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Requests are divided into two tracks--simple (under 50 pages of potentially responsive documents) and complex (over 50 pages of potentially responsive documents). Simple track requests typically require the least amount of time to process. Currently, simple track cases average approximately 181 days from the date of receipt for processing. Our complex requests in the large processing track are currently averaging approximately 659 days for processing.
A review of your request determined the search for records is ongoing, so we do not yet know into which track your request will fall. The estimated date of completion is therefore based on the median processing time of complex requests (large processing track). Accordingly, the estimated date on which the FBI will complete action on your request is 659 days from the date of your request.
Please contact foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov> if you require further assistance.
Thank you,

Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391/4997
E-mail: foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov>
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

An acknowledgement letter, stating the request is being processed.

Dear Mr. Best,

Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps, and follow the instructions below.

Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request

If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-0] please enter [1195846-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-1] please enter [1195846-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>.

FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- LAST UPDATED ON February 17, 2017

Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]

FOIPA:

Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:

FOIPA:

1234567-000

Case Type:

FOIPA

Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)

The FBI’s FOIPA Program is searching the FBI’s indices for potentially responsive documents.

You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.
NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.

Estimated Dates of Completion

Requests are processed in the order in which they are received through our multi-track processing system, and the FBI receives a voluminous amount of requests on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Requests are divided into two primary tracks--simple (under 50 pages of potentially responsive documents) and complex (over 50 pages of potentially responsive documents). Our complex requests are further divided into medium, large, and extra-large sub-tracks. Simple track requests typically require the least amount of time to process.

Currently, simple track cases average approximately 181 days from the date of receipt for processing. Requests in the medium processing track are currently averaging 232 days from the date of receipt for processing, those in the large processing track are currently averaging approximately 659 days, and those in the extra-large track are averaging 998 days.

Thank you,

Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO Line: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391 or (450)868-4997
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

Dear Mr. Best,

Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps, and follow the instructions below.

Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request

If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-0] please enter [1195846-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-1] please enter [1195846-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>.

FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- LAST UPDATED ON March 15, 2017

Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]

FOIPA:

Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:

FOIPA:

1234567-000

Case Type:

FOIPA

Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)

The FBI’s FOIPA Program is searching the FBI’s indices for potentially responsive documents.

You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.
NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.

Estimated Dates of Completion

Requests are processed in the order in which they are received through our multi-track processing system, and the FBI receives a voluminous amount of requests on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Requests are divided into two primary tracks--simple (under 50 pages of potentially responsive documents) and complex (over 50 pages of potentially responsive documents). Our complex requests are further divided into medium, large, and extra-large sub-tracks. Simple track requests typically require the least amount of time to process.

Currently, simple track cases average approximately 181 days from the date of receipt for processing. Requests in the medium processing track are currently averaging 232 days from the date of receipt for processing, those in the large processing track are currently averaging approximately 659 days, and those in the extra-large track are averaging 998 days.

Thank you,

Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO Line: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391 or (450)868-4997
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

Good morning Ms. Best,

Reference is made to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request # 1364946-000 for FBI records concerning Samuel Riley Pierce. The FBI has located approximately 7,889 pages that are potentially responsive to your request. Once requests go over a certain size, usually in the 50-100 page range, they become increasingly complex, greatly slowing down the time required for processing. Generally the larger the file, the longer it takes to process. Given our current workload and staffing levels, it may be a very long time before you would begin to receive material from this request.

We contact requesters with requests of this size to see if there might be a way to possibly narrow the scope. Is this something you might be willing to consider? If so, please contact me and we can discuss this possibility. We appreciate your patience and hope to hear from you soon.

Ms. Wilson
Government Information Specialist
FOIA Support Unit
Records Management Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
540-868-4894

Good evening Ms. Best,

I'm following up to the email I sent out last week to you with regards to your FOIA #1364946-000 on Samuel Riley Pierce. The previous email goes into more detail for our contact with you. If you are interested in narrowing the scope of your request, please contact me either by email or phone.

Thank you for your time and attention to this inquiry.

Sincerely,

Ms. Wilson

Government Information Specialist
FOIA Support Unit
Records Management Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
540-868-4894

Good morning Ms. Best,

As noted in the prior emails sent to you September 1st and on the 6th, we would like to know if you are interested in reducing the size of your request (#1364946-000) on Samuel Riley Pierce. The FBI has located approximately 7, 889 pages. Please let me know if you are interested in reducing this large sized request into a medium size case.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Respectfully,

Ms. Wilson
Government Information Specialist
FOIA Support Unit
Records Management Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
540-868-4894

Good afternoon Ms. Best,

I’ve looked at your request and the potentially responsive documents in the case. Please let me know what you are interested in on Samuel Riley Pierce, Jr. There are records pertaining to the presidential appointment, HUD Secretary and there are 3 other files (multi-subject) and numerous cross-references as you indicated your interest for those to be included. I would suggest eliminating the cross-references at this time and consider processing the main section of these other files up to the 950 page threshold. It would give you an indication of the type of investigation by which you could determine if you want additional records processed.

Please let me know how you would like to proceed with this request. We do appreciate your interest in narrowing the scope of this one.

Sincerely,
Negotiation Team

Good morning Ms. Best,

I’m following up to see if you are interested in reducing the size of this request. There are 4 Headquarters files and 2 rather small Field Office files. I would recommend processing all files for the first sections which would be approximately 971 pages. I can reduce to under 950 pages by addressing any duplicative records. Only one of these Headquarters files has more than one file section. This larger one can be addressed by starting with the first and last sections up to 950 pages. This Headquarters file starts in 1989 and ends in 1992.

Please let me know how you would like for this request to proceed.
Respectfully,

Good morning Ms. Best,

I’m following up to see if you are interested in reducing the size of this request. There are 4 Headquarters files and 2 rather small Field Office files. I would recommend processing all files for the first sections which would be approximately 971 pages. I can reduce to under 950 pages by addressing any duplicative records. Only one of these Headquarters files has more than one file section. This larger one can be addressed by starting with the first and last sections up to 950 pages. This Headquarters file starts in 1989 and ends in 1992.

Please let me know how you would like for this request to proceed.
Respectfully,

Good morning Ms. Best,

I’m picking up this email thread with your interest in perhaps reducing the size of your request for Samuel Riley Pierce, Jr., FOIA 1364946-000. Please see the previous emails.

Thank you,

Good morning Ms. Best,

This request on the Samuel Riley Pierce, Jr. with regards to type of investigative files, the focus is on public corruption, fraud, lab evidence, ethics, and political appointee consideration.

There are potentially responsive pages of 7,313. This request contains 10 different files ranging from 3 pages to 2,800 pages. The focus should provide some means by which you may want to narrow down the scope of this request. Again, for overall approach, the overall flow of an investigation is captured in the main file sections. I would suggest reducing the size of this request by review of main file sections for any of the areas above listed up to 950 pages. I will certainly look for any duplicate records and administrative pages that could be removed at this time for this reduced approach.

Please let me know if you do want to reduce this request.
Sincerely,

Negotiation Team
FOIA Support Unit
Information Management Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
540-868-4894

Good morning Ms. Best,

This is in reference to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request # 1364946 -000 for FBI records concerning Samuel Pierce. We are reaching out to you to determine if you are still interested in these records, or, if at this time, you would consider reducing the size of your request from 7313 pages to under 950 pages, which will move the request to the medium track. Reducing the size of your request may accelerate the processing and allow for a more timely receipt of the information you seek, as it could potentially place your request into a smaller, faster processing track. This may also reduce duplication costs, if applicable. Currently, there is a significant time involved in processing large track cases.

Requests are processed in the order in which they are received through our multi-track processing system, and the FBI receives a voluminous amount of requests on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Requests are divided into two primary tracks -simple (under 50 pages of potentially responsive documents) and complex (over 50 pages of potentially responsive documents). Complex requests are further divided into medium (51-949 pages), (large 950-8000 pages), and extra-large (over 8,000 pages) sub-tracks are based upon request size.

Please contact me with regards to this inquiry to let me know if you are still interested in receiving records for this request either in full (the remaining records), or reducing the request to the medium track (not to exceed 949 pages). If you reduce the size, you can request the additional records with a new FOIA request upon completion of this one.

Thank you for your time and patience. We hope to hear from you over the next few days so we can discuss these options.

Best regards,

FOIA Negotiation Team
FBI Information Management Division
540-868-1695

Need a status check? Contact FOIPA Questions (foipaquestions@fbi.gov).

Good morning Ms. Best,

We hadn't heard back from you and just wanted to follow up.

Best regards,

FOIA Negotiation Team
FBI Information Management Division
540-868-1695

Need a status check? Contact FOIPA Questions (foipaquestions@fbi.gov).