Tag: FCA

  • Whistleblower Receives $2.1M for Exposing Customs Fraud

    Whistleblower Receives $2.1M for Exposing Customs Fraud

    Allied Stone Inc., a Dallas-based countertop and cabinetry supplier, and its president Jia “Jerry” Lim, have agreed to pay $12.4 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act.

    Allied Stone and Lim avoided millions in customs duties owed between 2018 and 2013. The company allegedly misrepresented Chinese quartz products as other materials. They labeled them as marble or crystallized glass. They did not declare or pay proper duties, undermining fair trade protections designed to shield U.S. manufacturers from unfairly subsidized or underpriced Chinese imports.

    The case was brought to light by relator Melinda Hemphill, who filed under the False Claims Act’s qui tam provisions.

    For her role in exposing the scheme, relator will receive over $2.1 million of the settlement.

    Stacks of U.S. currency bundled and stacked, showcasing wealth.

    This payout underscores the significant financial incentives available to insiders who step forward with information about customs fraud.

    When companies cheat the system, taxpayers lose, trade policy is undermined, and honest U.S. businesses pay the price.

    If you are aware of a company misrepresenting imports, evading tariffs, or defrauding federal programs, you may have a False Claims Act case.

    Acting through Find Corporate Waste, you can file confidentially and still receive your share of any government recovery.

    👉 Contact us today at info@findcorporatewaste.com to protect taxpayer funds and hold fraudsters accountable.

  • Illumina’s $9.8M Cybersecurity Settlement Explained

    Illumina’s $9.8M Cybersecurity Settlement Explained

    Cybersecurity protection is a vital area where the federal government spends billions of dollars to ensure safety. A recent False Claims Act settlement in the District of Rhode Island is a clear example. Companies that fail to meet the standards they claim to uphold risk huge financial penalties.

    Illumina Inc., a leading genomic sequencing company, agreed to pay $9.8 million after the Justice Department alleged it sold systems to federal agencies that had serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities between 2016 and 2023.

    A whistleblower inside the company triggered the case. Erica Lenore, a former Director for Platform Management, received $1.9 million for stepping forward under the False Claims Act.  

    If you work in cybersecurity, IT, compliance, or product management for a company that sells to the federal government, you may have noticed similar failures. These include unpatched vulnerabilities or a lack of essential security testing.

    Under the False Claims Act, neglecting these failures can result in multimillion-dollar liabilities for your employer. It can also lead to multimillion-dollar rewards for you if you take action.

    For professionals concerned about exposure, Find Corporate Waste (FCW) protects whistleblowers who want to remain anonymous. We submit filings through the corporation, not you personally. This ensures maximum confidentiality. It also allows you to receive your fair share of any recovery.  

  • Delta Airlines To Pay $8.1 Million Settlement for Pandemic Relief Fraud

    Delta Airlines To Pay $8.1 Million Settlement for Pandemic Relief Fraud

    Delta Airlines has agreed to pay $8.1 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by breaching executive compensation limits imposed by Congress as a condition for receiving federal COVID-19 relief.

    The relief funds came from the Payroll Support Program (PSP), created under the CARES Act. Between 2020 and 2023, Delta received nearly $11.9 billion, including $8.2 billion in grants that did not require repayment. In exchange, the airline agreed to cap compensation for executives who earned over $425,000 in 2019 until April 2023.

    According to the settlement, Delta broke that agreement by awarding pay packages that exceeded legal thresholds, then falsely certified compliance with the terms of the PSP and failed to alert Treasury of its breach.

    “When companies accept federal assistance, especially generous pandemic-relief funds like those at issue here, they owe a duty to the American people to respect the conditions placed on those funds,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will continue to enforce all available laws to punish the misuse of taxpayers’ money.”

    The case began when a whistleblower—a financial researcher—filed a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act, a law that empowers private citizens to report fraud on the government’s behalf. As part of the resolution, the whistleblower (known legally as the relator) will receive $825,000 plus attorney’s fees.

    The qui tam case, United States ex rel. H. Remidez, LLC v. Delta Airlines, Inc., No. 1:23-CV-1116, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

    The settlement was the result of an investigation led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the DOJ Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, and the Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General.

  • Michigan Health Care Provider Ordered to Pay $334,807 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

    Michigan Health Care Provider Ordered to Pay $334,807 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

    In the Eastern District of Michigan, M&Y Care, LLC, a Michigan-based home health provider, has agreed to pay $334,807.20 to resolve allegations that it defrauded the Medicare and Medicaid programs by billing for services rendered by unqualified staff.

    According to the Department of Justice, M&Y Care caused the United States Government to be billed for services provided by unqualified staff. Using the incorrect CPT code, G0156, which refers to a home health aide, they defrauded the federal government for services at a reimbursement rate higher than the non-skilled rate to which their employees were entitled.

    The misconduct came to light thanks to a False Claims Act lawsuit filed under the law’s qui tam provisions. The investigation was prompted by a whistleblower complaint under the False Claims Act (FCA), showing the critical role private citizens play in holding corporations accountable for wasting our money.

    At Find Corporate Waste, we applaud this outcome and the whistleblower who made it possible. Every time a company siphons money from Medicare or Medicaid, they are not just defrauding a system—they are stealing from the sick, the elderly, and the taxpayer.

    We are committed to ensuring that fraud like this doesn’t go unanswered.

    If you have information about misconduct involving government programs or contracts, visit our page on how whistleblowers protect public funds. You might be the reason the next $300,000 gets returned to the American people.

    • Census Bureau Manager Took $790K in Contract Kickbacks

      A former Census Bureau program manager was sentenced to two years in prison for steering a federal contract to a relative’s company in exchange for $790,000 in kickbacks.

    • Mass. Man Kept $67K Meant for DEAD Social Security Recipient

      A Massachusetts man kept Social Security and pandemic payments flowing for six years after the beneficiary died.

    • Illegal Voting Case Raises Questions About Election-System Certifications

      An Australian lawful permanent resident allegedly registered and voted in two federal elections. The criminal case should trigger a second inquiry: what did election-system contractors certify their technology could prevent, detect or validate?

    • $89 Million Payroll Fraud Scheme Exposes a Taxpayer-Theft Pipeline

      The IRS says a construction-sector cash payroll scheme moved roughly $89 million through shell companies and caused more than $38 million in federal tax losses.

    • SSM Health Pays Nearly $1M After Pharmacy Copay Waiver Allegations

      A $1 million Missouri settlement shows why routine copay waivers are not harmless customer service. When federal programs pay inflated prescription costs, the False Claims Act becomes the recovery tool.

    • North Carolina Tax Preparers Turned Pandemic Relief Into a $14M Fraud Scheme

      Eight North Carolina return preparers have now pleaded guilty in a pandemic-relief tax fraud scheme that caused the IRS to pay nearly $13.9 million in fraudulent refunds.

    • DOJ’s $6.5B Health Care Fraud Takedown Shows Why FOCUS Matters

      The DOJ’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown is a roadmap for how public data, billing anomalies, exclusion records, and interagency screening can identify taxpayer exposure before fraud becomes unrecoverable.

    • Brooklyn Adult Day Care Operators Accused in $38M Medicaid Kickback and False-Billing Scheme

      Prosecutors reportedly allege APNA and Ashiana billed Medicaid for adult day care services that were not provided, using kickbacks, false attendance records, and shell-company transfers.

    • Alabama Defense Contractor Pays $507K to Resolve False Claims Act Cybersecurity Allegations

      DOJ says Alabama defense contractor LOGZONE Inc. agreed to pay $507,144 to resolve FCA allegations tied to cybersecurity requirements on Navy contracts. The case shows how DFARS/NIST compliance failures can become False Claims Act exposure when federal payment claims are involved.

    • Aquatherm Pays $1.35M Over PPP Eligibility Allegations

      Aquatherm agreed to pay $1.35 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it improperly obtained and received forgiveness for a PPP loan despite exceeding the 300-employee limit when affiliates were counted.

  • California Couple Guilty in $16M Hospice Fraud Scheme

    California Couple Guilty in $16M Hospice Fraud Scheme

    Two California residents have pleaded guilty in a scheme to defraud Medicare of nearly $16 million by operating fake hospice companies and laundering the proceeds.

    Karpis Srapyan of Winnetka, California, admitted to helping orchestrate the false claims, which were routed through four fake hospice companies he and others controlled. The scam used falsified documents, fraudulent leases, and stolen identities to gain access to federal funds.

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    Susanna Harutyunyan, also of Winnetka, pleaded guilty to laundering money on behalf of her husband and co-conspirators. She helped move millions through fraudulent bank accounts and spent taxpayer money on personal luxuries—including a BMW.

    Other defendants have already been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing, with penalties ranging up to 20 years in prison. One participant has already received a 12-year sentence.

    Find Corporate Waste is committed to uncovering schemes that drain public funds.

    Hospice fraud exploits the suffering of vulnerable American families, while wasting taxpayer money. The False Claims Act exists as the main remedy for recovering wasteful, abusive, and fraudulent spending.

    If you have knowledge of healthcare providers submitting false claims to Medicare or Medicaid, you can act.

    Whistleblowers are entitled to a portion of any recovered funds and play a critical role in protecting public trust.

    Becoming a relator is a serious decision.

    Find Corporate Waste is here to help guide you through the process. If you have firsthand knowledge about fraudulent Medicare billing or sham healthcare operations, we urge you to reach out and help restore integrity to our healthcare system.

  • DOJ-HHS Launch New Initiative to Combat Healthcare Fraud

    DOJ-HHS Launch New Initiative to Combat Healthcare Fraud

    July 2, 2025

    Washington, D.C.


    In a decisive move to enhance the fight against healthcare fraud, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have taken significant action. They have launched the DOJ-HHS False Claims Act Working Group.

    This strategic alliance formalizes long-standing cooperation between the two agencies.

    It also shows how the False Claims Act (FCA) is used. This law protects federal healthcare programs from fraud, waste, and abuse.

    The Working Group will concentrate enforcement in seven key areas:

    • Medicare Advantage fraud, such as upcoding and inflated risk scores
    • Drug and device pricing manipulation, such as undisclosed rebates and improper discount arrangements
    • Access to care violations, including non-compliant provider networks
    • Kickback schemes, involving drugs, medical devices, and durable medical equipment
    • Defective medical devices that compromise patient safety
    • Electronic Health Records abuse, such as system manipulation to boost Medicare billing
    • Data-driven investigations, powered by cross-agency analytics and audit findings

    The new Working Group encourages whistleblowers to report false claims involving federal healthcare dollars related to specific enforcement priorities.

    At Find Corporate Waste, we spotlight whistleblower-driven accountability.

    If you become a relator under the False Claims Act, your role would expose fraud and recover taxpayer dollars.

    Becoming a relator is a serious decision.

    If you have inside information on healthcare contracts or schemes, we’re here to assist you.

  • Whistleblower Rewarded $1.4 Million in YAPP USA Case

    Whistleblower Rewarded $1.4 Million in YAPP USA Case

    YAPP USA Automotive Systems, Inc., a subsidiary ultimately owned by the Chinese government, has agreed to pay $14,208,496 to the United States. This agreement settles allegations that it improperly obtained and retained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. These actions were in violation of the False Claims Act.

    The case was brought to light through a qui tam lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act by GNGH2 Inc., a private entity acting in the public interest.

    The whistleblower will receive $1,420,849 as a reward for its role in exposing the misconduct.

    Stacks of U.S. currency bundles, each secured with rubber bands, arranged neatly in a large pile.

    Find Corporate Waste is dedicated to recovering taxpayer money. These funds were given to foreign owned businesses. This occurred while Americans struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic.

    If you have information relating to potential False Claims Act violations, we are here to help you file your complaint. We aim to restore trust and accountability to the American procurement system.

  • South Carolina Man Charged in Medicare and Private Jet Fraud Schemes

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    This next case exemplifies how taxpayer dollars have been abused, and demonstrates the importance of recovering such funds when obtained under false circumstances.

    Two separate federal indictments allege that Patrick Britton-Harr, a 41-year old businessman from Charleston, South Carolina, used his company, Provista Health, to fraudulently bill Medicare more than $15 million for respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

    The government alleges that over $5 million was paid out by Medicare for these bogus claims.

    In addition, Britton-Harr ran a Ponzi scheme where he banked $1.5 million in payments from individuals who allegedly trusted him to purchase airplanes for their usage as part of an exclusive group through the corporation AeroVanti Inc.

    At Find Corporate Waste, we illustrate the critical role that the False Claims Act serves in safeguarding taxpayer funds. While the indictments do not directly mention a qui tam relator in this case, this tool can be used to recover government funds in cases relating to Defense and National Security, Manufacturing and Tariffs, and PPP Loans.

  • Lockheed Martin Pays $70 Million to Settle False Claims Allegations Over Defective Pricing in Missile Contracts

    In a significant enforcement action announced by the U.S. Department of Justice, Lockheed Martin Corporation has agreed to pay $70 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by submitting defectively priced contracts for missile sales to the Department of Defense.

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    The case centers on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, a key component of U.S. missile defense architecture. DOJ officials alleged that Lockheed Martin’s subcontractor, L3Harris Technologies, intentionally provided inaccurate cost data during negotiations, which Lockheed Martin then passed on to the government without adequate disclosure or correction. As a result, the U.S. Army Missile Command allegedly awarded contracts based on inflated cost and pricing data, causing the government to overpay for missile components.

    This case was brought to light by a private whistleblower, known legally as a relator, who filed a lawsuit under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. These provisions empower private citizens to sue on behalf of the federal government when they possess non-public evidence of fraud involving taxpayer dollars.

    In return, whistleblowers may be eligible to receive a portion of the recovery. In this case, the relator will receive $13.7 million from the settlement—a recognition of the role that private citizens can play in holding large corporations accountable.

    At Find Corporate Waste, we believe that the integrity of public spending starts with accountability. This case against Lockheed Martin highlights how whistleblowers can protect taxpayer dollars and expose fraudulent schemes that would otherwise go unchecked. We are committed to supporting those who step forward, guiding them through the complex landscape of False Claims Act litigation, and ensuring their efforts lead to meaningful recovery for the American people. If you have information about fraud, waste, or abuse of government funds, Find Corporate Waste is here to help you take the first step.