AZ Community College District to Settle False Claims for $4M; Whistleblower to Get $776K

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) has agreed to pay $4.08 million to resolve allegations that the district knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) concerning AmeriCorps state and national grants, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday.

CNCS is an independent federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, among other national service programs.  MCCCD obtained AmeriCorps funding for Project Ayuda, a program that proposed to engage students in national service.  In order to receive an AmeriCorps education award, a student had to meet certain service-hour requirements.  MCCCD allegedly improperly certified that students had completed the required number of service hours so that they would earn an education award.  This resulted in CNCS providing education awards to these students.  MCCCD also allegedly improperly received grant funds from CNCS to administer the project.

The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act by Christine Hunt, an MCCCD employee.  Under the False Claims Act, private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery.  Hunt’s share of the settlement is $775,827.   

The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments.  We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who expose every kind of fraud against the government, including health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud.  Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.