Brian P. Hearing, False Statements, Virginia 2023

Falsifying to the Feds: A high-ranking National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) official has admitted to lying to federal investigators about his involvement with a private company.

Brian P. Hearing, 43, of Falls Church, Virginia, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis III of the Eastern District of Virginia to an information charging him with making material false statements to federal investigators on an unknown date.

According to the statement of facts filed along with his plea agreement, Hearing worked at NGA from 2011 to 2015 in its Innovision Directorate, an applied science and technology research group. Hearing admitted that during this time, he also co-founded a private company for the purpose of developing and commercializing a certain type of automated detection system.

Hearing also admitted that he inappropriately used his position with the NGA to promote the company. In connection with his guilty plea, Hearing also admitted that when questioned by federal agents about his involvement with the company, he lied to conceal his conflict of interest.

Among other things, Hearing admitted to falsely claiming that another individual was the only founder of the company and to denying having any legal or financial connections to the company when, in fact, he co-founded the company and shared equal ownership of it. This case was investigated by the NGA-OIG and the DCIS.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Heidi Boutros Gesch of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Nathanson of the Eastern District of Virginia.

Hearing, a former NGA official, will likely face consequences for his actions. The NGA-OIG and DCIS are currently overseeing the investigation, and the outcome is still pending.

As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what other information will come to light. One thing is certain, however, Hearing’s actions have raised serious questions about the integrity of the NGA and the individuals who work within its ranks.

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