Difference between revisions of "Custer Battles"

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'''Custer Battles''', LLC[http://www.custerbattles.com/], is a security company based in McLean, Virginia in the United States.
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'''Custer Battles''', LLC[http://www.custerbattles.com/], is a mercenary security company based in McLean, Virginia in the United States.
  
 
The company's founders are Scott Custer, a former Army Ranger and defense consultant, and former CIA officer Michael Battles, who ran for Congress in Rhode Island in 2002 and was defeated in the Republican primary. Battles is a Fox News Channel commentator. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002058470_contract09.html]
 
The company's founders are Scott Custer, a former Army Ranger and defense consultant, and former CIA officer Michael Battles, who ran for Congress in Rhode Island in 2002 and was defeated in the Republican primary. Battles is a Fox News Channel commentator. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002058470_contract09.html]
  
Custer Battles was a two year old company in the security industry when it landed one of the first contracts issued in Iraq in the spring of 2003 to secure the airport. The three company bid contract was worth $16 million when it was awarded in the chaos after the fall of Saddam Hussein. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002058470_contract09.html]
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Custer Battles was a newly formed company with no experience in the security industry when it landed one of the first contracts issued in Iraq in the spring of 2003 to secure the airport. The no-bid contract was worth $16 million when it was awarded in the chaos after the fall of Saddam Hussein. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002058470_contract09.html]
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On July 1, 2003 the company announced that it would "bring its security training expertise to the State of Maine." [http://www.custerbattles.com/press/news_070103.htm]
 
On July 1, 2003 the company announced that it would "bring its security training expertise to the State of Maine." [http://www.custerbattles.com/press/news_070103.htm]
  
 
On April 9, 2004, BBC News reported that a Custer Battles employee and former British soldier, Michael Bloss, "was killed while guarding electrical workers near the town of Hit, west of Baghdad." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3614697.stm]
 
On April 9, 2004, BBC News reported that a Custer Battles employee and former British soldier, Michael Bloss, "was killed while guarding electrical workers near the town of Hit, west of Baghdad." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3614697.stm]
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A litany of complaints against Custer Battles can be found in the Forum section of [[ALI Capital Partners]].[http://www.alicp.com/]
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Custer Battles is currently banned from further DoD contracting[http://www.taf.org]. A ''qui tam'' lawsuit has been filed against it by several parties seeking recovery, on behalf of the US, of allegedly fraudulent claims by Custer Battles.
  
 
===Contact Information===
 
===Contact Information===
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*[http://www.custerbattles.com/index2.html Custer Battles, LLC], viewed April 9, 2004.
 
*[http://www.custerbattles.com/index2.html Custer Battles, LLC], viewed April 9, 2004.
 
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3614697.stm "Security worker killed in Iraq"], ''BBC News'', April 9, 2004, viewed April 9, 2004.
 
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3614697.stm "Security worker killed in Iraq"], ''BBC News'', April 9, 2004, viewed April 9, 2004.
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*[http://www.alicp.com/ ALI Capital Partners]
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*[http://www.alicp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=363 "Job seekers beware of Custer Battles LLC Security"], Forum topic, ALI Capital partners website, viewed April 9, 2004.
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*[http://www.alexanderlaw.com/ Alexanter, Hawes & Audet, LLP]
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*[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002058470_contract09.html "Contractor accused of fraud in Iraq"], T. Christian Miller, 9 October 2004, ''Seattle Times'', ''Los Angeles Times''.
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*[http://www.taf.org/custerbattles.pdf Text of ''qui tam'' filing] against Custer Battles.
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*[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/23/politics/23whistle.html "Memos Warned of Billing Fraud by Firm in Iraq"], Eric Eckholm, ''NY Times'', Oct 23, 2004.

Revision as of 21:34, 1 December 2004

Custer Battles, LLC[1], is a mercenary security company based in McLean, Virginia in the United States.

The company's founders are Scott Custer, a former Army Ranger and defense consultant, and former CIA officer Michael Battles, who ran for Congress in Rhode Island in 2002 and was defeated in the Republican primary. Battles is a Fox News Channel commentator. [2]

Custer Battles was a newly formed company with no experience in the security industry when it landed one of the first contracts issued in Iraq in the spring of 2003 to secure the airport. The no-bid contract was worth $16 million when it was awarded in the chaos after the fall of Saddam Hussein. [3]


On July 1, 2003 the company announced that it would "bring its security training expertise to the State of Maine." [4]

On April 9, 2004, BBC News reported that a Custer Battles employee and former British soldier, Michael Bloss, "was killed while guarding electrical workers near the town of Hit, west of Baghdad." [5]

A litany of complaints against Custer Battles can be found in the Forum section of ALI Capital Partners.[6]

Custer Battles is currently banned from further DoD contracting[7]. A qui tam lawsuit has been filed against it by several parties seeking recovery, on behalf of the US, of allegedly fraudulent claims by Custer Battles.

Contact Information

Custer Battles
8201 Greensboro Drive
Suite 214
McLean, VA 22102
info@custerbattles.com

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