When the COVID pandemic began to hit the US economy, the federal government released trillions of dollars of economic stimulus. Some business people engaged in activities that have spawned more government investigations, and more charges for white-collar crime. Situation: Covid … [Read more...] about Covid Economic Relief Fraud
DEA Busts Pill Mill
SITUATION: Busting a Pill Mill Federal prosecutors recently indicted theowner and two employees of a Maryland pain management clinic, alleging it is a “pill mill.” The DEA heavily targets these so-called “pill mills,” defined as any “health care provider’s office, clinic, or health care facility … [Read more...] about DEA Busts Pill Mill
Justice Department Sues Google for Anti-Competitive Practices
Situation This case study profiles the internet search engine Google, LLC. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Google owns the largest market share of search engines on the internet. According to investigators at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Google reached this status using … [Read more...] about Justice Department Sues Google for Anti-Competitive Practices
Pilgrim’s Pride fined $108 million for antitrust violations.
Situation This case study profiles Greeley, Colorado-based chicken producer Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (PPC). Ten executives at two leading United States broiled chicken producers conspired to keep prices of their products artificially high. Multiple federal agencies investigated Pilgrim’s … [Read more...] about Pilgrim’s Pride fined $108 million for antitrust violations.
Two Olympic Gymnasts Fined for Wage Theft and Violating Employee Protection Laws
Situation This case study profiles southern California youth gymnastics center Perfect Point Corporation, South Coast Gymnastics, and two owners Jia Wen and Xiaoping Li. During a routine COVID-19 safety check, investigators with the labor department discovered the southern California … [Read more...] about Two Olympic Gymnasts Fined for Wage Theft and Violating Employee Protection Laws
Michael Wibracht, Ruben Villarreal SBA Fraud
Situation Two business owners conspired to defraud the US Small Business Administration (SBA) by concealing the true ownership status of their businesses when submitting bids to the SBA for federal government contracts. Created in 2019, the Procurement Collusion Strike Force provides a … [Read more...] about Michael Wibracht, Ruben Villarreal SBA Fraud
Texas Heart Hospital False Claims Act scheme
Situation Physician-owners at a respected hospital in Texas violated federal law by improperly charging Medicare when referring patients from their facility to another office in which they had a vested financial interest. After former employees filed a whistleblower, Hospital settled the civil … [Read more...] about Texas Heart Hospital False Claims Act scheme
Barton Schack, Regent Medical Properties, Bank Fraud
Situation The former chief investment officer of a northern New Jersey regional medical practice pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The defendant and the business’s former CEO conspired to defraud mortgage lenders of mortgage loans on 13 rental properties in three … [Read more...] about Barton Schack, Regent Medical Properties, Bank Fraud