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Matt Apuzzo: ‘Tickling the Wire,’ Knocking on Doors, Getting the Story on Government Wrongdoing Matt Apuzzo: How an Investigative Reporter Got His Story
(1 day later)
Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at The New York Times. In this podcast, Times investigative reporter Matt Apuzzo gives readers insight into how he reported a story about how the A.T.F. filled a secret bank account with millions from shadowy cigarette sales.Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at The New York Times. In this podcast, Times investigative reporter Matt Apuzzo gives readers insight into how he reported a story about how the A.T.F. filled a secret bank account with millions from shadowy cigarette sales.
Working in an office suite behind a Burger King in Virginia, government agents allegedly swindle American farmers out of $24 million in a cigarette smuggling scam? Sounds like a B-movie.Working in an office suite behind a Burger King in Virginia, government agents allegedly swindle American farmers out of $24 million in a cigarette smuggling scam? Sounds like a B-movie.
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Matt Apuzzo, however, wrote an investigative report last week about a real-life, shadowy operation that gave rise to a federal racketeering suit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives whose agents, the farmers say, cheated them out of millions.Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Matt Apuzzo, however, wrote an investigative report last week about a real-life, shadowy operation that gave rise to a federal racketeering suit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives whose agents, the farmers say, cheated them out of millions.
In this podcast, Matt talks about his story and provides behind-the-scenes insight into how he reported it.In this podcast, Matt talks about his story and provides behind-the-scenes insight into how he reported it.
He explains how he first got wind of a possible swindle. From the start, he says, “I was pretty sure there was something crazy going on and was not daunted when he found, soon after he began investigating, that a federal judge had” ordered all of the records connected to the case to be sealed. He explains how he first got wind of a possible swindle. From the start, he says, “I was pretty sure there was something crazy going on,” and says he was not daunted when he found, soon after he began investigating, that a federal judge had ordered all of the records connected to the case to be sealed.
Few things excite a reporter more than a cache of sealed documents. Apuzzo promptly downloaded more than 800 documents, thousands of pages of which were sealed or redacted. Then followed a number of evenings when Apuzzo sat, over-caffeinated at his kitchen counter, shuffling through papers, taking notes and trying to make connections between various references contained in the documents.Few things excite a reporter more than a cache of sealed documents. Apuzzo promptly downloaded more than 800 documents, thousands of pages of which were sealed or redacted. Then followed a number of evenings when Apuzzo sat, over-caffeinated at his kitchen counter, shuffling through papers, taking notes and trying to make connections between various references contained in the documents.
“It was like making a jigsaw puzzle without knowing what the final picture is,” he says. Human error worked in Apuzzo’s favor; many of the documents were filed inaccurately or badly redacted. Piecing together snippets of information, Apuzzo was able to put together the outlines of a shady looking outline a smuggling operation that involved government agents.“It was like making a jigsaw puzzle without knowing what the final picture is,” he says. Human error worked in Apuzzo’s favor; many of the documents were filed inaccurately or badly redacted. Piecing together snippets of information, Apuzzo was able to put together the outlines of a shady looking outline a smuggling operation that involved government agents.
The basics of tobacco smuggling are relatively simple — people buy cigarettes in a state with low taxes and sell them in a state with higher taxes, dodging the the tax entirely, and keeping the difference.The basics of tobacco smuggling are relatively simple — people buy cigarettes in a state with low taxes and sell them in a state with higher taxes, dodging the the tax entirely, and keeping the difference.
“It’s totally illegal," says Apuzzo. “But it’s a great way for criminals, terrorists and mobsters to fund their activities — so great, in fact, that the A.T.F. said we should maybe do the same thing.”“It’s totally illegal," says Apuzzo. “But it’s a great way for criminals, terrorists and mobsters to fund their activities — so great, in fact, that the A.T.F. said we should maybe do the same thing.”
Apuzzo, who teaches a journalism class in Washington D.C., says he always tells his students to not be afraid of knocking on doors, which is just what he did next. He had gotten names of people connected with the tobacco companies from court documents, he drove to their homes, knocked on their doors, introduced himself and asked if he might come inside and chat. “Even if people aren’t supposed to talk to you, they will,” he says, estimating that nearly 20 percent to 30 percent of the people he approaches when reporting a story let him into their homes and talked with him.Apuzzo, who teaches a journalism class in Washington D.C., says he always tells his students to not be afraid of knocking on doors, which is just what he did next. He had gotten names of people connected with the tobacco companies from court documents, he drove to their homes, knocked on their doors, introduced himself and asked if he might come inside and chat. “Even if people aren’t supposed to talk to you, they will,” he says, estimating that nearly 20 percent to 30 percent of the people he approaches when reporting a story let him into their homes and talked with him.
Having found the basic contours of the smuggling scheme, Apuzzo still had (and continues to have) questions about the operation. Did it involve a bunch of rogue agents, for example, or was the operation approved through the chain of command? There is value, he says, in what the F.B.I. calls “tickling the wire,” meaning running an article when you have some, but not all of the answers. Often stories like this lead to tips, sources and new information.Having found the basic contours of the smuggling scheme, Apuzzo still had (and continues to have) questions about the operation. Did it involve a bunch of rogue agents, for example, or was the operation approved through the chain of command? There is value, he says, in what the F.B.I. calls “tickling the wire,” meaning running an article when you have some, but not all of the answers. Often stories like this lead to tips, sources and new information.
Apuzzo says the story is one of “straight government accountability” which he sees both as his job and the core mission of the Times.Apuzzo says the story is one of “straight government accountability” which he sees both as his job and the core mission of the Times.
“When there is $24 million that basically goes into an off-the books account, you can bet someone is making money,” he says. The conversation suggests Apuzzo is not finished finding out who profited here and at whose direction.“When there is $24 million that basically goes into an off-the books account, you can bet someone is making money,” he says. The conversation suggests Apuzzo is not finished finding out who profited here and at whose direction.
Susan Lehman is host.Susan Lehman is host.