Federal Reports

In accordance with our Annual Performance Plan Fiscal Year 2020, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a performance audit of the United States Capitol Police's (USCP or the Department) Transit Incentive Program (TIP). OIG objectives were to determine whether the Department (1) established adequate internal controls and processes for ensuring compliance with Department policies, and (2) complied with applicable policies and procedures, as well as applicable laws, regulations, and best practices. Our scope included controls, processes, and operations during FY 2019.

We audited Vineville Christian Towers’ (project) Rental Assistance Demonstration Program (RAD) conversion in accordance with our annual audit plan. Our audit objective was to determine whether the project’s RAD conversion to the Section 8 Project-Based Voucher Program was completed in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) requirements; specifically, whether the Macon-Bibb County Housing Authority properly executed the housing assistance payments contract for the project’s RAD conversion. The Authority improperly executed a Section 8 Project-Based Voucher Program housing assistance payments (HAP) contract for 90 units. Specifically, the Authority did not ensure that (1) the tenant protection assistance was in place for all 90 tenants, and (2) only the units occupied at the time of contract execution were included on the contract. In addition, the Authority did not obtain information from HUD for properly issuing tenant protection assistance. This condition occurred because the Authority (1) lacked an understanding of retroactive RAD conversion type and was not familiar with the requirements for tenant protection assistance and (2) did not establish written procedures related to the RAD conversion and tenant protection assistance. As a result, the Authority improperly received more than $138,000 in administrative fees. Unless the Authority cancels the contract, we estimate that it will improperly provide nearly $257,000 over the next year for units improperly converted under RAD.We recommend that the Acting Director of HUD’s Atlanta, GA, Office of Public and Indian Housing require the Authority to (1) cancel the contract resulting from the RAD conversion, thereby putting nearly $257,000 to better use; (2) reimburse its Section 8 program more than $138,000 in associated administrative fees from non-Federal funds; (3) develop and implement procedures; and (4) provide training to its staff to help ensure compliance with program requirements.

The Postal Service uses a universal key, known as an arrow key, to access collection boxes, outdoor parcel lockers, cluster box units, and apartment panels. Supervisors assign these keys – generally one per route – to letter carriers for use on over 300,000 delivery and collection routes each day. Carriers and collectors must always keep arrow keys secured and attached to their belts or clothing by a chain while on duty and return them at the end of each day. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of the Postal Service’s management controls for arrow keys.

Babar Iqbal, a California-based doctor and owner of Riverside Regional Surgery Center, was sentenced in the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, on August 31, 2020, to 27 months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution of $2,799,550 for health care insurance fraud. Iqbal targeted patients whose insurance paid higher reimbursement amounts to providers who were considered out of network, and he performed services that were medically unnecessary. Iqbal also conspired with marketers to obtain fraudulent insurance policies for individuals who did not have health insurance. The marketers then referred these individuals to Iqbal at the Riverside Regional Surgery Center. In return, the marketers received a commission based on the reimbursement amount the insurance companies paid Iqbal. Amtrak’s health insurance plan was fraudulently billed approximately $1,653,210 as a result of the scheme. Iqbal previously pleaded guilty to several charges related to health care insurance fraud in June 2020.