The various branches of the United States military employ hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen to perform various functions. However, this does not include many logistical, manufacturing, and data retention roles. In most cases, the Department of Defense relies on contractors for everything from food acquisition and data management to producing weapons and equipment.
This means that defense contractors are constantly seeking payment from the government. Each transaction is an opportunity to further pad the bottom line through overcharging for goods or claiming compensation for services not performed. A Lexington defense contractor fraud whistleblower lawyer could help explain the federal laws that prohibit this activity and help you come forward to expose these crimes. Reach out to our skilled team of whistleblower attorneys to learn more about how they can put their decades of experience to work for you.
Defense contractors do business with the federal government every day. A significant part of this interaction, and indeed the purpose of becoming a defense contractor, is to collect payments for services rendered or goods provided.
When attempting to collect these reimbursements, it is a violation of federal law for a defense contractor or any other party to knowingly submit a false claim for payments. According to the False Claims Act in 31 United States Code § 3729, this is a felony-level crime.
These criminal acts can occur in many ways. A defense contractor may overcharge for products or services, intentionally submit an artificially low bid, or falsify timecards or service records. A whistleblower with information about these illegal acts can talk with a Lexington defense contractor fraud attorney to learn more about the False Claims Act and the actions that may indicate a violation of the law.
As American citizens and legal residents, we all pay taxes that contribute directly to the national defense. We have the right to expect that these funds be used as efficiently as possible, and instances of fraud by defense contractors are a major source of lost finances. For this reason and more, it is the proper and patriotic thing to do to report any instances of fraud that an employee or third-party observers.
In addition, federal law allows whistleblowers to submit writs of Qui Tam along with their reports. These writs demand a reward in exchange for their information. Under 31 United States Code § 3730(c)(5), these rewards can be between 15 and 25 percent of the total funds that an investigation recovers for the government. However, rewards are only possible if a whistleblower’s information is new and contributes to a successful recovery. A Lexington whistleblower attorney could provide more information about defense contractor fraud and the rewards program. They could work to seek out the payments that individuals who decide to come forward deserve.
Defense contractors can commit fraud in many ways. Sadly, the federal government lacks the resources to properly identify every source of fraud, and these actions cost taxpayers millions every year. As a result, the whistleblower program attached to the False Claims Act encourages people to come forward with information that could lead to the conviction of contractors and the recovery of funds.
Reach out to a Lexington defense contractor fraud whistleblower lawyer now. We are ready to evaluate your information, explain the whistleblower process, submit writs of Qui Tam, and even protect you from potential retaliation.
