TIG Settles False Claims for $5.9M; Whistleblower Award TBD
PC Specialists Inc., dba Technology Integration Group (TIG) has agreed to pay $5.9 in order to settle allegations that the company knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims to the federal government for computers sold to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for use at Sandia National Laboratories, the U.S. Department of Justice announced yesterday.
TIG sold Dell computers to Sandia Corporation for resale to the United States under Sandia’s contract with the NNSA. The NNSA purchased the computers for use at Sandia National Laboratories. The United States alleged that TIG knowingly inflated the amounts it charged Sandia by failing to give credits for rebates and discounts it received from Dell as required by its contract and causing false claims to the government for the inflated prices.
In a separate but related matter, in April 2015, TIG entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of New Mexico regarding allegations that three employees in TIG’s Albuquerque branch office engaged in a scheme to defraud the United States by inflating the amounts it charged Sandia for computers. The non-prosecution agreement in that matter required TIG to terminate the employment of the three employees in its Albuquerque branch office – a vice president, a senior account executive and an accounts executive – who participated in and profited from the scheme. The non-prosecution agreement also required TIG to retain and pay for an independent monitor selected by the U.S. Attorney’s Office who is responsible for monitoring TIG’s compliance with the agreement, and TIG policies, procedures and training relating to federal government contracts over the agreement’s three-year term.
The allegations resolved by the civil settlement announced today arose from a lawsuit filed by Maverick Granger, a former TIG executive in Albuquerque, under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private individuals to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and share in the recovery. Mr. Granger’s share of the settlement has not yet been determined.
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.