WASHINGTON – The United States has intervened in a whistleblower lawsuit against AECOM, an architecture and engineering firm based in Los Angeles, California, and certain disaster relief applicants, alleging that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the repair or replacement of certain facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina, the Justice Department announced today. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Tulsa, Oklahoma-based contractor the Ross Group Construction Corporation (Ross Group), and its corporate affiliates, have agreed to pay over $2.8 million to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by improperly obtaining federal set-aside contracts reserved for disadvantaged small businesses, the Justice Department announced today.   

            TEXARKANA, Texas – A 43-year-old Little Rock, AR man has been sentenced to federal prison for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.

            Antonio Otero pleaded guilty on Oct. 29, 2019 to charges of equity skimming and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III.  Otero was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2 million to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Pharmacy Shut Down and Ordered to Pay $250,000 in Community Restitution and Forfeiture

BOSTON – A former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for stealing approximately $7,000 in government money.

Adam Lavertue, 37, of Dracut, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to two years of probation, 500 hours of community service, and ordered to pay restitution to the USPS. In March 2020, Lavertue pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of public money, property or records.