A VA Loma Linda Health Care System manager who has been the target of whistleblower complaints alleges in a federal complaint that a subordinate who died by suicide in 2022, purportedly after enduring years of work-related harassment and retaliation, plotted with other disgruntled employees to get him fired.
Grounds supervisor Martin Robles, in a Sept. 6, 2023, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission grievance against the Department of Veterans Affairs, said , an irrigation specialist who died by a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, and co-workers discriminated against him and created a hostile work environment, according to a confidential letter from EEOC Investigator Michael Cox.
The Southern California News Group obtained a copy of Cox’s three-page letter to witnesses requesting them to submit an affidavit to assist in the investigation. Several witnesses contacted by SCNG declined to comment. They asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to discuss the matter and fear retaliation.
Cox said in an email this week to SCNG that his final report was submitted to the VA on April 26, but declined to comment further. VA officials said a public records request would have to be filed before details of the EEOC investigation could possibly be released.
Robles did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Robles alleges in the complaint he notified VA Loma Linda management that Sperry, a former Marine, and other workers were harassing him and spreading false rumors, but no action was taken.
Sperry’s mother, Sharon L. Sperry of Sedona, Arizona, alleges in a federal lawsuit filed in May that “countless complaints” about Robles were ignored, exacerbating her son’s post-traumatic stress disorder and resulting in his death on Aug. 9, 2022. The former Marine was 43 when he died.
Vanessa Jarvis, an attorney, representing Sharon Sperry, doesn’t give much credence to Robles’ EEOC complaint
“I don’t take his complaints seriously since, as we know, the government already investigated and determined that claims against Robles were founded and he should have been terminated,” she said.
Sharon Sperry is suing the federal government and Robles for harassment, failure to prevent harassment, California Labor Code violations, and negligent hiring, supervision and retention of an employee. She is seeking $5 million in damages.
“Ryan did not like what he saw and experienced through the continual hostility and harassment from his immediate supervisor toward employees of this department, and was trying to go through the right channels to lodge his complaints,” she said in a statement. “He became a victim of that hostility and harassment and it sickens us to this day.”
Meanwhile, Robles alleges he, too, is a victim.
In his complaint, he said Sperry and other VA Loma Linda Facility Management Support employees routinely swore at him, refused assignments and spread false rumors about his character and work performance, prompting numerous internal investigations.
In one instance, Robles claims he gave Sperry a work assignment that he refused to carry out, and then “laughed out loud and walked away.”
Additionally, Robles said that on Nov. 19, 2020, he received an anonymous phone call reporting that Sperry was plotting with others to get him fired, telling VA Loma Linda human resources officials he mistreated employees and stole equipment.
As a result of efforts to have him fired, Robles said he was subjected to VA Administrative Investigations Board proceedings on Feb. 8, 2021.
The complaint was followed by a federal fact-finding inquiry on Aug. 4, 2022, and a 14-day suspension beginning Jan. 8, 2023.
Robles alleges he was subjected to harassment that extended beyond the workplace, noting that on May 24, 2023, a VA Loma Linda employee went to media outlets with false claims about his character.
The following day a letter from an unknown sender allegedly arrived at Robles’ residence containing a news story about him being involved in a VA employee’s death, a map showing his address with the surrounding community highlighted, and a note indicating the information had also been mailed to more than 8,000 homes in the area.
Robles said in the EEOC complaint he contacted the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department about the letter and a person in a suspicious car taking photographs of his home and children.
In 2021, federal investigators recommended that Robles be fired for creating a hostile and racially charged work environment, according to a 61-page report obtained by SCNG.
However, instead of being terminated, he was inexplicably promoted and still works at the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, which has more than 2,400 employees and 1,300 volunteers who serve more than 76,000 veterans.
Additionally, SCNG reviewed more than a dozen emails and complaints filed with the VA over five years showing that Robles allegedly made disparaging remarks about the military, forced employees to chauffeur him around for free, and had them conceal his whereabouts when he was tardy or absent from work.
The issues involving Robles are among a string of controversies at VA Loma Linda that have come to light over the past year, including the alleged misuse of transportation funds and involuntary psychiatric holds for veterans.
The House Committee on Veterans Affairs and U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Hesperia, are investigating widespread complaints from VA Loma Linda whistleblowers regarding retaliation for reporting manager misconduct.
