This is deep! A lot of research done....

Now, we all know how the government feels in regards to Diploma Mills having set up the FBI's Dipscam years ago.

Before I begin, allow me to briefly explain a something. General Services Administration (or GSA) is the following:

"GSA secures the buildings, products, services, technology, and other workplace essentials federal agencies need."
As stated at:
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home.do?tabId=6

In a nutshell, GSA contracts with companies, such as Staples for example, to provide the government with services, supplies, etc.

Okay, one approved GSA vendor is a company called OPIVOTAL.
http://www.opivotal.com/Contact/ContactInfo.asp

Now, Opivotal has a distribution center located at:
1525 Kuebel Street
New Orleans, LA 70123
http://www.opivotal.com/Contact/Distributors.asp (Click on the little dot on Louisiana to see see the address)

The Board of Online Universities Accreditation (BOUA) has been discussed on this forum before. As well all know, it's useless. Their website http://www.boua.org/ is registered to:
Gene Eckel
1525 Kuebel Street
New Orleans, LA 70123
If you don't know how I found this, go to http://www.register.com type in boua in the search box, and click on the .org box. Then click go. After the page loads you'll see "Unvailable View WHOIS boua.org". Click on that and you'll see for yourself.

Now, could this Gene Eckel be running this operation from work or what? I can't, nor will I say anything, in regards to it. I am not implying anything. Just merely making an assumption based on the *CURRENT* facts and information that I have before me.

One more thing to throw into this mix is this:

Lagasse
Corporate Office
1525 Kuebel St.
New Orleans, LA 70123
http://www.lagassenet.com/contact_us.asp

Now, it could be that Lagasse is a distributor for Opivotal. Lagasse's website is trademarked 2000, 2001 while Opivotal's is trademarked 2002, 2003. It could be that Lagasse at one time operated from that address.

I tried calling the numbers for both companies, but to no surprise they are closed on Sundays. Have no fear, as I am going to call them tomorrow and see what I can find out.

 

You must have a lot of extra time on your hands

 

You must have a lot of extra time on your hands

 

Randell my boy, you have no idea just how much free time I really do have. No kids, no friends, just time.

 

Maybe this address is a commercial mail box address with hundreds of box holders.

 

Re: Re: This is deep! A lot of research done....

Or maybe this is a case for the X-files. If the supernova has the bit between his teeth then I say, "Let him run." What's to lose?
Jack

 

Ah, here's something I forgot to mention.

BOUA's phone number as listed on register.com as 630-234-8686.
The phone number could not be found anywhere, however, the 630 area code is Illinois. Hmm, interesting how your street address is in New Orleans, but I have to call an Illinois phone number.

 

It seems to be a Chicago number but I couldn't get anything either. Good luck in M____.
Jack

 

All,

Interesting post. VoIP services and Centrex IP are routinely used by business, government, private citizens and commercial enterprises to provide numbers that are not anywhere near the physical address. These numbers can reside most anywhere. In fact you can have a US number and not even be in this country. With the time on your hands, research: www.vonage.com. There are others but the Feds are examining where this type of service actually lies (data or telecom) and if it merits the same policies levied against the telecom industry. This service has been deployed over high speed satellite. Just ask the folks in Iraq.

vist: www.gsa.gov for a more detailed look at GSA methodologies and some background on doing business with GSA.

I am new to the forum so am not familiar with the issue at hand. However, if any educational service or business misrepresents themselves in a bidding process and subsequently is awarded a contract under fraudualent qualifications there can be repercussions.

Additionally, the contract number cited in the company "GSA Approved" portion (assuming they actually have one and are not just riding the coattails) can be researched via web search.

GSA has a Inspector General and will respond to private citizens complaints or issues. MCI ring a bell?

I look forward to the exact issue being presented. Preferably to the GSA IG and then follow up perhaps on the issue?

 

facts are great

Hiya,

A comment concerning the "You must have a lot of extra time on your hands" comment: it's interesting to see how the threads of weirdness have been spun into the various webs of facts that can be used to reveal the shape of a not-wonderful degree-granting organization. Kind of like doing jigsaw puzzles?

Posting stuff to degreeinfo accomplishes different things, not always perfectly aligned. It archives material so that it can be easily retrieved for later collation, but it also alerts operators of not-wonderful places that they are being looked at a little more closely. I suppose something really juicy might go to an Attorney General first, then (later) degreeinfo.

Nothing beats facts. I suppose we might sometimes draw incorrect inferences because of subtleties. (For example, when is a "suite number" just a mail forwarder's bin number, and when is it something else?)

go get 'em!
G

 

Hmmm ...

HERFF JONES GRADUATE SUPPLY HOUSE

1520 KUEBEL ST
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70123-6972
504-734-7464

Is listed in the same complex. They sell college diplomas http://www.herff-jones.com/questions_frameset.html

(of course it is all very legitimate- they sell caps and gowns and class rings too)

Legasse, Legasse Brothers Inc are the only two things listed in the particular building -1525, but it is an industrial park so there are lots of businesses in that area near the airport. (sat photo at oneil.cx/k.jpg )

That 630-234-8686 number is a mobile telephone. The 630-234 block is in the WCHCILBFCM6 central office and the block is assigned to SWBell mobile services.

The only Gene Eckel in the country is Eugene M Eckel who lives in Omaha. He never lived in LA, or IL. ( KY and NE only).

You think you have free time.

 

Could simply be one of those rent-an-office type places. You call and a receptionist answers, but s/he is servicing multiple companies. All the mail comes in without suite numbers and s/he routes it appropriately.

This is common out here in CA.

Boomer

 

Boomer, that's a good point I never thought about that.

Fed, I'm following up on that as we speak. I'll post with the results.

mdoneil, thanks a lot for that added research. I'm trying to piece this altogether to see what I can uncover.

 

I see a book or a TV series here - Tilting at Degree Mills or Undercover Mill Hunters (UMH-Miami).

 

Perhaps that isn't a bad idea Geno. Why with all of the reality TV shows this one would be a real hoot. I could go undercover and use high tech surveillance equipment to watch suspected diploma mill operators.

HOO-RAH!

http://midis.jamesbond-online.com/james-bond-theme-techno-remix.mid

 

thanks a lot for that added research. I'm trying to piece this altogether to see what I can uncover.

 

Thank you, eclipsed. I think you may have just set a record for necromancing an old thread - 15 years, originated by a member who has not posted in 11 years.

I , for one, can't wait to see what new facts you uncover in your research of this, um, current issue. I'm so delighted you have become a member at DI; things were getting boring around here.

 

Steve, I know you're going to be surprised when I tell you that eclipsed' home page is a telecommunications company.