Top NASA Official Jailed Under Suspicious Circumstances

a reply to: Foxtrot7x

You seem to be wanting to close this thread quickly for some reason .

And the OP seems to be willing to lie and harass people to keep it alive for some reason. We are not in a position to evaluate what is going on. An internal investigation turned into a criminal investigation, that's all we know. The fact that it happened at NASA seems to be why this is so fascinating for some people. The same thing happens every day at other businesses.

His above post made complete sense and it was your reply which didn't . He said Gary downloaded 300000 images of 'adult' pornography and there were 2 images of 'child' pornography in them . So if he was addicted to child pornography why would he download just 2 when he has 300000 of rest

Exactly: where is it said that he is addicted to child pornography? Clearly, he is addicted to legal pornography, but that is not a crime. It is the presence of two instances of child pornography in his otherwise legal (if stupid and crass) collection that makes it a crime, rather than just an internal affair.

I've just received an email from Rene Stutzman, another Orlando Sentinel reporter. She tells me that I've inspired them to begin investigating the matter themselves. They've already acquired new information, including his current activity and approximate whereabouts. She tells me he's:

...about to have a psychological evaluation done by someone picked by the U.S. Attorney's office, or, it may have already been completed.

It's not clear when he'll be sentenced, but whenever that is, it'll be in an Orlando federal courtroom, so it's reasonable to think he's in the Orlando area, most likely at a county jail that has a contract to house federal inmates.

The U.S. Marshall's Service is in charge of his whereabouts. It's people tend not to be very forthcoming, but perhaps they'll be helpful to you.

The U.S. Attorney's Office also would know, but, again, not so helpful.

She also went on to answer a question I've had throughout this investigation:

As for where our information came from: federal court records.

That should also answer your question, Deny777. Why was there a five day gap between arrest and report? Because it took that long for his arrest to be placed in the system, and for the media to discover it among the bloated legal search engine that is PACER.

The latest article has information that tended not to be or plainly hasn't been discussed by the older articles. We've found it and discussed it here though, including in my previous post:

Lawson ... specializing in communications security...

On his LinkedIn profile, Lawson wrote that he had worked for years with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, starting in 1992.

As he was being escorted off NASA property, security officers seized nine personal electronic devices. When they searched them later for proprietary information, they discovered photos of underage boys.

He was to be sentenced in November, but both sides agreed to a delay then defense attorneys had him evaluated by a psychologist, who last month concluded that he was mentally incompetent to proceed...
Orlando Sentinel

We should all click that link to help support Orlando Sentinel's ad revenue since they've helped us with information, and could potentially continue to do so.

As we see here, Lawson's continuing to be given the role of the crazy guy who can't be believed. It's very interesting that a man who spent thirty years working at a sensitive position within NASA, as a COMSEC Manager according to his Linkedin profile, should suddenly be so crazy. You'd think that a lunatic would be a security risk, and if he's incompetent to stand trial, how could he have been competent to manage NASA COMSEC adequately?

One might argue that may then be the reason why he was terminated, but we must remember that NASA specifically stated his termination was a result of several "security violations." Insanity is then not clearly the cause for his termination. One absolutely must wonder why, if he was such a nutcase, was he not terminated long ago? People don't just go crazy overnight, as Hollywood might have us believe. He didn't suddenly transition from sane to nutcase simply as a result of having been fired, charged or investigated. If he was immediately so crazy following his termination, then he was certainly equally crazy long before it.

Could such a man retain a position as his for a lengthy amount of time if he wasn't even sufficiently psychologically competent to comprehend a trial? A position of supreme technical complexity, and unrelenting scrutiny? I think the answer must be "no." I think the more reasonable answer is that he's in fact entirely sane. The real question then becomes, who's playing Lawson off as a lunatic? Is it Lawson himself, in an effort to avoid prison, despite that he's already got a cushy plea deal? Or might this be a means for further destruction of his credibility? All that I can say for certain is that Lawson hasn't disappeared after all, and we're learning more with each moment.

originally posted by: Deny777

originally posted by: Navarro
What are you thinking that implies? I personally wouldn't expect the media to be very responsive to the story. From their perspective this matter must've seemed small-time. It in fact very well may be. Other stories surely had priority, and I imagine other news agencies may have reported sooner. One of my local television stations receives reports of UFOs frequently, yet they ignore them entirely. They don't report on but a fraction of the local murders, and so I imagine even fewer child pornography cases receive attention. I'd still like to know what the original source was though.

Speaking of that article, you might recall I contacted the writers with an information request. I've spoken to one of them a few times now over the past few hours. Kevin Connoly of Orlando Sentinel had informed me that information is available on PACER, the federal website I spoke of being unable to access earlier. He provided me with the code #: 6:15-cr-00164-CEM-TBS-1 as a reference to Lawson. I explained to Connoly that I don't have access to PACER and asked if he could relay the information. As I was writing the message to you, I received two PDF files from Connoly. Good guy, that Connoly. I'll review those PDF files and post what I find.

To me, together with the fact that he admitted to everything he was convicted of so easily it could indicate he was being coerced to collaborate. I mean, I don't know how bail works in the US but I'd be eagerly asking for bail at the first opportunity if I was him.

I could tell the article was taken from a news agency because it was replicated almost word for word in more than one news site. Which could indicate it came from a NASA press release BTW.

The PDF containing Lawson's plea deal included a statement which might relate this:

Following the execution of the search warrant at LAWSON's residence, LAWSON agreed to speak voluntarily with agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NASA Office of Inspector General. During the interviews that followed...

Prior to his arrest, we see them searching his home, and a reference to multiple interviews being conducted still prior. It's anyone's guess at how many interviews were conducted, or over how long of a period of time. Could be that it took them a while to convince Lawson to play ball. There's no reason to believe it couldn't have taken five days. Yet there's no reason to believe that this period did last five days. If there was something happening during those days you're interested in, this is what the government said about them. What do you think?

originally posted by: confusedbutnotidiot

originally posted by: Crowdpsychology
a reply to: Navarro
So what kind of corporation was SAIC?

It provided government services and information technology support, and it had a annual revenue of 4,5 billion. They had a deep relation with DoD, I.C. and NSA, and due to their longtime relationship with NSA they jokingly called themselves NSA-West based on their geographical location in comparison to NSA headquarters.

Brilliant comment. This thread is classic. We have the shills saying nothing to see here, he was nobody, you are making a mountain out of a mole hill, move along. But, at the end of the day, someone in the higher spheres of power disappeared off the face of the earth without any trace, and you could be next.

It would appear that he hadn't in fact disappeared at all, but your point remains valid. I remember ATS being much the same many years ago, either in the early 2000s or late nineties. There was a lot of talk about "shills," "debunkers"and "thread killers" in those days. In fact, I remember endless ranting about it in the ATS chat room. I suppose ATS must've gotten rid of that for some reason. It was certainly very popular back then.

The position that Lawson was NASA's janitor is pretty absurd though. On his Linkedin page he clearly states:

Manage the NASA Central Office of Record for COMSEC Accounting at the working level. Oversee 19 NASA COMSEC Accounts, write COMSEC accounting procedures for the agency, conduct periodic audits at each COMSEC account, and provide general COMSEC support and guidance to all agency levels.
Linkedin

Yet there were those few who disagreed that he was saying he's NASA's COMSEC Manager, despite the opening sentence stating he manages NASA COMSEC. There were those who said he's not "the" manager, but just a small-time supervisor in charge of a few at one particular site, despite that the next line says that he oversees nineteen NASA COMSEC accounts. Then there were those who said the words "account" and "audit" clearly indicates he was just an accountant. What he said is right there, a few sentences up and a link away. I can understand the suggestion that he was embellishing, but to say that he didn't say that which he clearly did? First a janitor, now an accountant.

What a shame. Those folks can be interesting though, when they're not echoing one another, mulling over the same fallacious point into infinity.

a reply to: Navarro

Here's the elephant in the room: Do you know any of the people you have been reporting on personally? Any grudges you would like to discuss?

originally posted by: Navarro
I've just received an email from Rene Stutzman, another Orlando Sentinel reporter...We should all click that link to help support Orlando Sentinel's ad revenue since they've helped us with information, and could potentially continue to do so.

Can you explain again, in more detail, why you said that you think he is alive?

If you think the media is good, google operation mockingbird.

We don't know if they are making this story up just to shut down this thread. There are a lot of people here twisting things, like downplaying the saic aspect in the "nothing to see here" argument, so we have all the motivation. For example, perhaps the editor of this paper was asked to fix that we are talking about a dead person who is supposed to be still alive. They can also make a call and have Lawson's name added to whatever prison they pick at random. The problem, however, is that one person already searched the entire prison system and came up with nothing.

a reply to: Navarro

if he was such a nutcase, was he not terminated long ago?

Just because he is now a nutcase doesn't mean he was a nutcase before. He just got caught doing one of the most disgusting things possibe and his life is ruined as it should be. reality is hitting him and the stress is likely to crack him.

Why is it so hard to believe that there are some sick bastards out their and not even nasa is exempt from them?

originally posted by: interupt42
Just because he is now a nutcase doesn't mean he was a nutcase before. He just got caught doing one of the most disgusting things possibe and his life is ruined as it should be. reality is hitting him and the stress is likely to crack him.

You got it backwards. The child porn was found after he was removed at gunpoint from saic and/or nasa. He didn't get a chance to go home I don't think. There was not a delay of getting caught with porn and then going crazy and getting fired per your theory.

a reply to: confusedbutnotidiot



Being escorted of the premise is normal especially for the crime he is accused of

I would be very surprised if they didn't have knowledge of the porn before his arrest. It was common for nasa to run checks for porn within the network. Many were caught before during those scans.

originally posted by: interupt42
a reply to: confusedbutnotidiot
I would be very surprised if they didn't have knowledge of the porn before his arrest.

Einstein, according to your own above theory, it was Lawson who had knowledge of the feds knowing he had porn which caused him to go crazy, not the other way around (in which the feds knew he had it before arresting him).

I don't mind shills here, but can you all at least not contradict yourselves too often? Thanks.

a reply to: confusedbutnotidiot

according to your own above theory, it was Lawson who had knowledge of the feds knowing he had porn which caused him to go crazy, not the other way around (in which the feds knew he had it before arresting him).

When did I say that lawson had knowledge of the feds being on to him?

This is what I said:

He just got caught doing one of the most disgusting things possible and his life is ruined as it should be. reality is hitting him and the stress is likely to crack him.

Try to follow (I can see why you think I'm Einstein):
He was arrested for child porn, Reality sinks in, He cracks under the pressure of the reality of his situation.

So why is it so impossible for this guy to actually just be a sick F##K?

originally posted by: confusedbutnotidiot

originally posted by: Navarro
I've just received an email from Rene Stutzman, another Orlando Sentinel reporter...We should all click that link to help support Orlando Sentinel's ad revenue since they've helped us with information, and could potentially continue to do so.

If you think the media is good, google operation mockingbird.

We don't know if they are making this story up just to shut down this thread. There are a lot of people here twisting things, like downplaying the saic aspect in the "nothing to see here" argument, so we have all the motivation. For example, perhaps the editor of this paper was asked to fix that we are talking about a dead person who is supposed to be still alive. They can also make a call and have Lawson's name added to whatever prison they pick at random. The problem, however, is that one person already searched the entire prison system and came up with nothing.

I think you're talking about me when I searched local, state and federal institutions and came up with negatives on each occasion. That isn't to say I searched every correctional institution, just Federal, Florida and Seminole County Jail. I also contacted Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge, another location he was known to be at one point. To search every correctional institution within the country would mean to search every jail individually, as local government institutions must be searched separately. Once Federal, Florida and Seminole were searched without result, Lawson had been disappeared in that ascertaining his location appeared beyond the means of practical OSINT methodology. In other words, he would be very difficult for you or I to locate, which would make him sufficiently disappeared from COINTEL's perspective in this instance.

You're absolute right that the media isn't to be trusted. However, the search for Lawson looked to have arrived at a dead end. We didn't know Lawson's whereabouts nor his status, and our leads had run dry. Orlando Sentinel facilitated the next few pieces of the puzzle, where without them we may never have seen another. Opposition to them would be to bite the hand that feeds, and also to ignore the only untapped clue known to be within reach. The fact is they're the only ones that've worked with us, and as we have no reason to believe that they specifically were untruthful in this matter, I thought it important to encourage support for them, which is to encourage support for the only support we've received.

Besides, in truth nothing and nobody can be trusted. We live in a world of lies. If we disregard Orlando Sentinel because we know media to be generally untrustworthy, then we should also disregard any other source of information because counter-intelligence could mean to derail our investigation from any angle, especially that which we'd least suspect. Aside from one of NASA's Security Agents, there's not many who we'd be more distrusting of than the propaganda machine that is the media. One could then logically argue that Orlando Sentinel would be somewhat trustworthy in this situation.

The bottom line is really that in truth all sources of information could be ingenuine. Disregard of every source of information is to invite rampant ignorance, and to deny the possibility for any future progress toward the truth through any avenue, on any subject. Instead, we should consider everything said, yet question everything said. It's about critical thinking, not ignoring possibilities. So, the story may be a fabrication, but we don't know that to be true, nor do we have specific reason for believing that it is. As such, it would be prudent to keep the story in mind.

originally posted by: interupt42
a reply to: Navarro

if he was such a nutcase, was he not terminated long ago?

Just because he is now a nutcase doesn't mean he was a nutcase before. He just got caught doing one of the most disgusting things possibe and his life is ruined as it should be. reality is hitting him and the stress is likely to crack him.

Why is it so hard to believe that there are some sick bastards out their and not even nasa is exempt from them?

Very unimpressive. I clearly explained that the concept relied on the notion that a man who's thought incompetent to stand trial is surely then incompetent to manage NASA's COMSEC apparatus. If Lawson can't even comprehend the idea of trial in his present state, then he couldn't comprehend the idea of "overseeing nineteen COMSEC" outfits throughout NASA. The courts are suggesting that he can't manage his own affairs. How can he be expected to manage NASA's affairs? If he's too crazy to stand trial, he's too crazy to have adequately performed his functions at NASA. As I explained, one doesn't devolve into such a gibbering lunatic overnight. At least not without help. So Lawson would have had to be demonstrating gross incompetence at NASA for some time now. He would've had to be an obvious nutcase in a sensitive, highly scrutinized position of leadership. NASA didn't think Lawson was incompetent, otherwise they would have terminated him for it. They instead terminated him for "security violations."

I discussed this all in the post which you quoted. Interesting that you somehow managed to overlook the majority of its content.

a reply to: Navarro

I clearly explained that the concept relied on the notion that a man who's thought incompetent to stand trial is surely then incompetent to manage NASA's COMSEC apparatus. If

Why? He wasn't managing NASA's COMSEC after his arrest.

The arrest is likely what caused him to have that mental breakdown. Its also not uncommon for a defence to plea mental incompetence.

If Lawson can't even comprehend the idea of trial in his present state, then he couldn't comprehend the idea of "overseeing nineteen COMSEC" outfits throughout NASA.

You do realize that the scumbag just got arrested and his world just got turned upside down as it should.

It is not uncommon for someone in his situation to struggle with the consequences of being labelled a sexual predator, loosing his livelihood, prison,embarrasment and many other bad things that are coming his way to have a mental breakdown.

Hence while he may have been a scumbag while working at NASA, it does not mean that he was mentally incompetent before his life got turned upside down from the arrest. The arrest is likely what caused him to have that mental breakdown.

Also last I checked Nasa is still hiring humans that can still sneak through the cracks like LIsa Nowak

Donald Lawson is mention in this newsletter under Space Gateway Support..

www.nasa.gov...

Space Gateway Support's contract is listed as saying...

Under the contract, Space Gateway Support provides facility and infrastructure operations and maintenance, fire protection, security services, transportation support, grounds maintenance and other base support services.

www.bizjournals.com...

Hopefully this is enough to show that he isn't some high up NASA guy, and certainly not the creator of the OP's lie that he created the "never a straight answer policy"

a reply to: Chadwickus

Trust me it won't, as the OP and a few others have thrown the truth out the window for his tall tale.

I feel denying ignorance is an outdated motto time for the new one... just make it up as you go.

Amazing how far some want to go just to make something a conspiracy.

a reply to: Navarro

I think you're talking about me when I searched local, state and federal institutions and came up with negatives on each occasion. That isn't to say I searched every correctional institution, just Federal, Florida and Seminole County Jail. I also contacted Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge, another location he was known to be at one point.

You still have not explained why you have made this effort. Why are you obsessively stalking a low level contractor?

originally posted by: Chadwickus
Donald Lawson is mention in this newsletter under Space Gateway Support..

www.nasa.gov...

Space Gateway Support's contract is listed as saying...

Under the contract, Space Gateway Support provides facility and infrastructure operations and maintenance, fire protection, security services, transportation support, grounds maintenance and other base support services.

www.bizjournals.com...

Hopefully this is enough to show that he isn't some high up NASA guy, and certainly not the creator of the OP's lie that he created the "never a straight answer policy"

Had you actually read the thread instead of speaking in ignorance, you would've seen that I've posted that very same news letter and discussed it at depth. Lawson is one of five people mentioned in the credits for "Space Gateway Support." You say this suggests he's an insignificant figure at NASA, but lets look at the significance of those other names he's grouped with under SGS. Larry D Davis has an extensive resume, which includes in small part:

• Deputy Chief, Operations Division, Mission Operations Directorate (1994-1996)
• Assistant to the Chief, Operations Division, Mission Operations Directorate (1996- 1998)
• Chief, Operations Division, Mission Operations Directorate (1998-2005)
• Chief, Training Division, Mission Operations Directorate (2005-Current)
AWARDS & CITATIONS :
• Sustained Superior Performance Award, 1984
• NASA Exceptional Service Medal, 1984
• Certificate of Commendation, 1989
NASA

Davis is clearly a man of great prominence within the organization. He's a distinct figure at NASA, and he's grouped right along side Lawson under "Space Gateway Support," which you suggest to be a lowly thing. Another name in that short list was Cecil G Boggs, a man who's had a monument constructed in his name, and who's been honored by NASA:

39-96-11 CECIL G. BOGGS JR. HONORED FOR ROLE IN SPACE PROGRAM
NASA

If anything, Lawson's appearance as one of these five names only helps to solidify his significance. Finally, let's look at what "Space Gateway Support" is, and what responsibilities the organization entails:

Space Gateway Support, a joint venture by Northrop Grumman's Information Technology (IT) sector and Wackenhut Services...
Indeed

...policy development, Organizational structure consultation, Information technology consultation services, Business intelligence consulting services, Project management, Industrial management, Management advisory services, Business and corporate management consultation services...
MacRaes

"Northrop Grumman" is hardly the janitorial contracting firm that you suggest. "Information Technology" and "Intelligence Consulting" certainly fall in line with COMSEC and the four references to "Management," to include "Project Management," when grouped with the previous quotes, doesn't make it difficult to believe Lawson was NASA's COMSEC Manager, which is what Lawson identifies himself as:

Manage(s) the NASA Central Office of Record for COMSEC Accounting at the working level. Oversee(s) 19 NASA COMSEC Accounts...
Linkedin

Your ignorance directly leads to evidence of Lawson's prominence within NASA. The idea that a seventy year old man would continuing pushing brooms or working "grounds maintenance" is absurd to boot at any rate. A man of seventy very rarely continues to work menial labor. You'd expect him to be doing something which he thought important and was proud of, and you'd expect him to be a manager after thirty years. That's not to mention that you completely ignored the fact that media associates him with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), which doesn't much sound like a where you'd expect NASA to acquire it's janitors from either. It sounds like an organization with which NASA's COMSEC Manager might be associated.

I think it's safe to say that we have no reason to believe Lawson wasn't NASA's COMSEC Manager as he says, and if he's not, his being grouped among those other five prominent NASA figures in Spaceport News isn't the contradiction. It only serves to support the title Lawson claims.