Millions of Dollars in False Claims Submitted to HUD’s FHA Mortgage Insurance Program

DOJ

The United States has filed a civil complaint in federal court in Brooklyn seeking damages and penalties against three individuals and multiple companies alleged to have engaged in a wide-ranging mortgage fraud scheme to defraud the government.

The government’s complaint intervenes in a lawsuit originally brought by under the qui tam provisions of the FCA.  Under the FCA, private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government can bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and share in the recovery.  The act also permits the government to intervene in such actions, as the government has done in this case. read more »

Argos USA admits to violating U.S. antitrust laws

REUTERS

Argos USA LLC, a unit of Grupo Argos, has admitted to conspiring to fix prices, rig bids and allocate markets for sales of ready-mix concrete, and agreed to pay $20 million as part of a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department, the department said on Monday.

The Georgia-based company and other concrete companies were alleged to have organized the conspiracy by dividing up the market in coastal Georgia as well as coordinating on issuing rate-increase letters and charging fuel surcharges. read more »