April 25, 2023

Texas Man Sentenced for Role in Scamming Seniors in Rhode Island and Elsewhere in Online Romance Scams

A Texas man who participated in a conspiracy that fraudulently used the identities and images of two United States military Generals, and others, to defraud seniors in at least eleven states, including Rhode Island, of at least $1.5 million through online romance scams, was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

April 24, 2023

Former Physician to Pay More than $1.1 Million to Resolve Allegations He Performed Medically Unnecessary Procedures

Former physician Jason A. Dreyer has agreed to pay $1,174,849 to resolve allegations that he performed medically unnecessary neurosurgery procedures that Dreyer caused to be billed to Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs, announced Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. The joint settlement announced today is between Dreyer, the United States, and the State of Washington, which administers Washington’s Medicaid program using a combination of state and federal funding.

April 24, 2023

L3 Technologies Settles False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Double-Charging for Certain Material Costs

L3 Technologies, Inc., Communication Systems West, a Utah-based manufacturer of communications equipment for military systems, has agreed to pay $21.8 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting and causing the submission of false claims to the Department of Defense by including in contract proposals the cost of certain parts twice, the Department of Justice announced today.

April 24, 2023

Former Contracting Officer for the Department of Defense Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy to Defraud the Government

An Uxbridge man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in a conspiracy to defraud the government of thousands of dollars from 2014 to 2018.

April 21, 2023

Justice Department Announces Nationwide Coordinated Law Enforcement Action to Combat COVID-19 Health Care Fraud

Criminal Charges Brought Against Medical Professionals, Owners of Medical Businesses, and Others for a Variety of COVID-19 Fraud Schemes with False Billings Exceeding $490 Million

April 21, 2023

A Ft. Bragg Officer Pleads Guilty and his Wife, the Executive Officer of the Campbell University ROTC Program, was Convicted in Government Property Theft that Profited More Than $2 Million

Two Army Officers, who are also husband and wife, have been convicted in a multi-year activity involving the theft of more than $2 million in government property. Last week, Chief Warrant Officer Three (CW3) Christopher Hammond, 38, pled guilty to theft/possession of government property and money laundering. Yesterday, his wife, Major Heather Hammond, 34, was convicted by a federal jury for spending money laundering proceeds and aiding and abetting. CW3 Hammond faces up to 30 years in prison, plus fines and restitution, and Major Hammond faces up to ten years in prison plus fines, when they are sentenced later this year.

April 21, 2023

Two Conspirators Sentenced to Almost Four Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Exporting Firearms, Ammunition, and Military-Type Items to Nigeria to Assist Separatists Fighting Against the Government of Cameroon

U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Tse Ernst Bangarie, age 47, of Hyattsville, Maryland, and co-defendant Edith Ngang, age 57, of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, each to 46 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiracy, and for illegally exporting firearms and ammunition from the United States to Nigeria without obtaining the required licenses from the U.S. State Department. According to court documents, the purpose of the conspiracy was to assist separatists fighting against the government of Cameroon. Bangarie was sentenced on April 18, 2023 and Ngang was sentenced yesterday.

April 21, 2023

South Carolina Inmate Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Military Sextortion Scheme

Dexter Lawrence, 37, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role in a scheme to extort and defraud military members that was operated out of the South Carolina Department of Correction (SCDC).

April 19, 2023

Former Physician Associated with 1-800-GET-THIN Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Massive Fraud Against Health Insurers

A former doctor has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for scheming to defraud private insurance companies and the Tricare health care program for U.S. military service members by fraudulently submitting nearly $120 million in claims related to the 1-800-GET-THIN Lap-Band surgery business, the Justice Department announced today.

April 18, 2023

Podiatrist and Patient Recruiter Convicted for $8.5M Compounding Fraud Scheme

A federal jury convicted two Texas men today for their role in a scheme to fraudulently bill TRICARE – the health care program for U.S. service members and their families – for compounded creams that were medically unnecessary and procured through kickbacks and bribes.