Administration Announces Pandemic Fraud Chief

Now more than ever, it’s important to promptly report PPP Loan Fraud, and other COVID related fraud with the use of a whistleblower lawyer. At the 2022 State of the Union Address, it was announced that the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) will name a Chief Prosecutor for fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic fraud has been a stated priority of the DOJ, which has recently pursued violations ranging from submitting false Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan documents to distributing adulterated or misbranded pharmaceuticals.

PPP loan fraud has plagued the program since its inception. The purpose of the program was to quickly infuse businesses with cash to retain employees and the distribution of monies had very little oversight.  Employers engaged in a multitude of schemes with the PPP loans and some employers bought expensive Porsches and Pokemon cards at the expense of the program and the employees.  The PPP Loan Fraud law firm of Brown, LLC is looking for cases related to employers who outright fabricate employees, inflate head counts, create fictitious companies, double count, or triple count employees with various companies and schemes in which the employer retained the PPP loan and it did not go to the employees. 

In a rush to combat the illness itself a host of emergency approvals were granted by the federal government for COVID vaccines, treatment and testing. Another enforcement priority of the Department of Justice is falsification of FDA approval data, which may result in faulty approval and thus the government paying for a product that it wouldn’t have ordinarily paid for had it been properly vetted. Our pharmaceutical fraud lawyers at Brown, LLC represents insiders in the pharmaceutical industry and invites others to discuss their insider concerns if you’re aware of fraud on the FDA.

Whistleblowers are a key weapon in the DOJ’s crusade against pandemic fraudsters. In the prior fiscal year, whistleblowers filed 598 qui tam lawsuits under the False Claims Act reporting fraud against the United States. The DOJ announced settlements and judgements totaling over $5.6 billion during that period.

 These substantial recoveries nevertheless represent a miniscule sliver of the fraud perpetrated against American taxpayers. One study suggests that up to $76 billion may have been fraudulently obtained through the PPP program alone. Other large government programs, such as Medicare, continue to be popular targets for deceptive practices and Medicare fraud along may be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.  PPP loan fraud whistleblowers may be able to obtain up to 30% of what the government recaptures and with the statute provided for triple damages, that’s over $200 billion of ppp loan fraud out there and roughly $60 billion available as PPP loan fraud whistleblower awards. 

Whistleblowers must use a qui tam law firm to file under the False Claims Act.  You can answer the DOJ’s call to action by contacting the experienced qui tam attorneys at Brown, LLC. Led by a former FBI Special, this whistleblower law firm has a proven track record of success navigating the False Claims Act and other whistleblower statutes. Call 877-561-0000 or email info@jtblawgroup.com for a free, confidential consultation.

 

 

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