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Military

Gambling Probe Prompts Suspension Of Navy Nuclear Commander

Vice Adm. Tim Giardina
STRATCOM.mil
Vice Adm. Tim Giardina

The Navy has suspended Vice Adm. Tim Giardina, the second most powerful man in charge of all U.S. nuclear war-fighting forces at the United States Strategic Command.

The Associated Press reports the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation alleges Giardina attempted to pass fake gambling chips at a Hawkeye State casino.

Giardina has not been arrested or charged with any crime yet, as the investigation is still underway.

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Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation special agent David Dales told the A.P.:

DCI agents stationed at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa, discovered the counterfeit chips...

[Dales] would not say when the discovery was made or how much in counterfeit chips was found, only that “it was a significant monetary amount.”
According to his official Navy biography, Giardina assumed duties as deputy commander of United States Strategic Command in December 2011.

Keith Whyte of the National Council on Problem Gambling told the New York Post that service members are twice as likely as their civilian counterparts to have problems with gambling:

“Gambling, especially Internet gambling, is a huge issue in the military."