Law Enforcement | WPN World People News

The Department of Justice announced Monday that University Furnishings LP and its general partner, Freedom Furniture Group Inc. (collectively University Furnishings) agreed to pay $15 million to resolve a lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act alleging that the companies made or conspired with others to make false statements to avoid paying duties on wooden bedroom furniture imported from the People’s Republic of China. Texas-based University Furnishings sells furniture for student housing.

Maryland-based splint supplier Dynasplint Systems Inc., and its founder and president, George Hepburn, have agreed to pay approximately $10.3 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing Medicare for splints provided to patients in skilled nursing facilities, the Department of Justice announced on December 18.

Thirty-two hospitals located throughout 15 states have agreed to pay the United States a total of more than $28 million to settle allegations that the health care facilities submitted false claims to Medicare for minimally-invasive kyphoplasty procedures, the Justice Department announced on December 18. The Justice Department has now reached settlements with more than 130 hospitals totaling approximately $105 million to resolve allegations that they mischarged Medicare for kyphoplasty procedures.

A Portland, Oregon, resident was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, 12 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of filing false claims for tax refunds, four counts of theft of government funds and one count of aggravated identity theft, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams for the District of Oregon and Special Agent in Charge Teri L. Alexander for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation.

A former tax return preparer and resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of theft of public funds and one count of aggravated identity theft, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U. S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The former tax preparer for television personality Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino and his brother, Marc Sorrentino, Wednesday admitted filing fraudulent tax returns on their behalf, Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman of the District of New Jersey announced.

A former regional director of the technology company SAP International Inc. was sentenced to prison Wednesday for his role in a scheme to bribe Panamanian officials to secure the award of government technology contracts.

A Middle Island, New York resident pleaded guilty on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

An Army sergeant was sentenced to 24 months in prison Thursday for his role in a conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with supply contracts while serving in Afghanistan.

A California man pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering in connection with an international “pump and dump” scheme involving stocks traded on the over-the-counter (OTC) market.