COMPANY AGREES TO SETTLE “FALSE CLAIMS ACT” CLAIMS
According to a press release issued by the United States Department of Justice, Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.—a company engaged in management, consulting, and engineering services – is alleged to have wrongfully charged the United States government for work which actually benefited the company’s commercial and international businesses.
For about a decade – 2011 to 2021 – Booz Allen is said to said to have charged the government for costs that “should have been billed to its commercial and international contracts.” In other words, it imposed charges for services which afforded “no benefit to the United States.”
In settlement of a lawsuit which had been filed, the company agreed to pay $377.45 Million – “one of the largest procurement fraud settlements in history.” (And a whistleblower will reportedly receive a whopping $69,828,832.)
In a written statement, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, indicated, “Government contractors must turn square corners when billing the government for costs under government contracts …. Today’s settlement demonstrates our commitment to hold accountable contractors that knowingly overcharge the government and enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayers.”
The press release further notes, “The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.”
Even with that disclaimer noted, who says crime doesn’t pay?
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