Government sees surging small biz fraud Pt. 3

      Here is Set-Aside Alert’s exclusive state-by-state list of major Justice Dept. fraud cases in the last two years (continued from Aug. 26, 2022 edition):

New Jersey:

• Fake SDVOSB: VE Source LLC and its owners Sherman Barton and Christopher Neary, and a related entity, Vertical Source LLC, were accused of obtaining $16.5 million in contracts by falsely claiming that VE Source was an SDVOSB. VE Source agreed to pay $7.6 million to settle the claims. Neary and Barton agreed to additional payments totaling $155,000 (https://bit.ly/3P4Kf7j).

North Carolina:

• Loan scheme: Joseph Marsell Cartlidge, David Christopher Redfern and Eric Alexander McMiller each were sentenced to 60 months or more in prison for fraudulently seeking $2.7 million in SBA pandemic loans. Each was ordered to pay $498,657 in restitution (https://bit.ly/3AvUdv1).

Oklahoma:

• Huge fraud ring: Amanda J. Gloria pleaded guilty to conspiring to submit fraudulent PPP loan applications seeking $43.8 million. She unlawfully obtained $32.5 million. She faces a maximum of 30 years in prison (https://bit.ly/3OPZbHf).

Texas:

• SDVOSB deception: Michael Angelo Padron was convicted of wire fraud and conspiring to commit fraud, obtaining more than $240 million in federal construction contracts set aside for SDVOSBs. Alleged co-conspirators are Michael Wibracht and Ruben Villarreal. Padron faces a maximum sentence of 125 years in prison and fines of $1.8 million. (https://bit.ly/3uEsBQw).
• Loan cheat charges: Hamza Abbas, Khalid Abbas, Abdul Fatani, and Syed Ali were indicated for conspiring with others to obtain fraudulent loans totaling $35 million. In total, 15 people have been charged. (https://bit.ly/3nKuxmG).

Virginia:

• Bribery at GSA: General Services Administration contracting official Charles W. Jones pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in exchange for awarding contracts to Contractors USA and SDC Contracting LLC. Jones received bribes totaling more than $412,000 from the presidents of those companies. The contractors previously pleaded guilty to related charges. Jones is facing up to 15 years in prison (https://bit.ly/3bUg8lt).

Inflation Reduction law to fund climate actions for gov agencies

DOD M-P final rule

Vax mandate for fed vendors

Firms warned on FOIA request

'Climate smart' fed'l buildings

Government sees surging small biz fraud Pt. 3

DBE airport concessions

NASA's draft NCAPS RFP

Column: Action Required - Federal Contractor Data at Risk of Public Disclosure

Washington Insider:

Coronavirus Update