MPRI to Settle False Labor Claims for $3.2M; Whistleblower to Receive $576K

MPRI Inc. has agreed to pay $3.2 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act that it submitted false labor charges on a contract to support the Army in Afghanistan, the Justice Department announced earlier this week.

MPRI allegedly billed for employees who had been granted leave and were out of the country and were thus not working.  Under its contract with the Army, MPRI was required to provide support to the Army in its efforts to re-design and build from a new Afghan Defense Sector that would establish an Afghan national security system.  Among other things, MPRI was required to provide support for program and financial management, development/implementation of core systems for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, General Staff, and intermediate Commands. MPRI was also responsible for sustaining institutions, training in logistics, acquisitions, installation management, and intelligence. 

The lawsuit was originally filed by Byron Scott Lankford, a former employee for MPRI in Afghanistan, under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act.  The False Claims Act allows private parties with knowledge of fraud against the government to sue on behalf of the government and share in the recovery. Lankford will receive $576,000 as his portion of the settlement.

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.