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.

April 18, 2023

International Business Organizations Convicted of Criminal Conspiracy to Violate Iranian Sanctions

Two international business organizations pleaded guilty and were sentenced today in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for their participation in a criminal conspiracy to violate U.S. export laws and sanctions by sending U.S.-origin goods to Iran.

April 14, 2023

Adobe Inc. Agrees to Pay $3 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations Involving Federal Software Sales

Adobe Inc. has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it made payments in violation of the Anti-Kickback Act in return for influence over the sale of Adobe software to the federal government.

April 14, 2023

Man Sentenced for Bribery Schemes Involving Millions of Dollars in U.S.-Funded Military Contracts and Visa Fraud

A Georgia man was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison for his roles in two bribery conspiracies -one related to a U.S. military contracts fraud scheme and one related to a Department of State visa fraud scheme.

April 14, 2023

Government Contractors Indicted in San Antonio for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering

A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment last week charging four members of a San Antonio family with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.