The Manafort case is a reminder that we invest too little in catching white-collar criminals

It shouldn’t take a special counsel to catch a tax cheat.

From a policy standpoint, the single most important thing about former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort’s sentencing on Wednesday in federal court is an observation from his lawyers: He never even would have ended up charged under normal circumstances.

If Manafort had not gotten caught up in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, his lawyers argued to two different judges, he’d never have been arrested or charged for his myriad white-collar crimes.

From a legal standpoint, the argument “and I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for you meddling special counsels” isn’t especially strong.

But the problem isn’t the federal government punishing Manafort, it’s how rarely the perpetrators of Manafort-style crimes get punished at all. read more »

Medical equipment firm owner admits to $9.8 mln Medicaid fraud

The owner of a company that provided durable medical equipment pleaded guilty on Wednesday to engaging in healthcare fraud that resulted in $9.8 million in false claims being submitted to Medicaid, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Waveney Blackman, the owner and chief executive officer of WaveCare Health Services LLC, pleaded guilty in federal court in Washington, D.C. to a single health fraud count after being initially charged last month. read more »

Company and Two Individuals Sued for Allegedly Defrauding The United States Postal Service

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that the United States has filed a civil complaint alleging False Claims Act violations committed by BJ Trucking Company, Inc., a former Highway Contract Route supplier for the United States Postal Service.  The complaint also alleges False Claims Act violations against two of the company’s principals

The federal False Claims Act allows the United States to recover triple the money falsely obtained, substantial penalties for each false claim submitted, and investigative costs.  BJ Trucking Company, Douglas Cline, and Chad Cline can also be held liable for the fraudulent transfers with which they were involved, and the United States can recover from their individual assets. read more »