Thousands of people in Lexington and throughout the country make their living by working as government contractors. In addition, their employers enter into lucrative contracts to provide goods and services to the government. With so much money changing hands, it is no surprise that fraud is a constant daily temptation.
The federal government often relies on whistleblowers to come forward with information related to fraud. In fact, a set of federal laws allows these individuals to claim rewards when their information results in convictions and the recovery of funds. A Lexington government contractor fraud whistleblower lawyer is ready to assist you if you believe that you have information about these crimes. Call our office to speak with a knowledgeable whistleblower attorney today.
One of the significant reasons to report government contractor fraud is the potential of receiving a reward. Any whistleblower may include a writ of Qui Tam along with their report that demands an award for their information. Under 31 United States Code § 3730(c)(5), this reward may vary in value from 15 to 25 percent of the funds that the government recovers in a case.
Still, rewards are not available in every situation. A Lexington government contractor fraud whistleblower attorney is ready to explain how the information that a whistleblower provides must be new to the relevant investigating agency. In addition, this information must spur an investigation that leads to an eventual conviction and recovery of funds. Talking with an attorney could help people better understand how the Qui Tam rewards program functions.
Most allegations of government contractor fraud have their basis in the False Claims Act. According to 31 United States Code § 3729, it is against the law for any party to knowingly make a false claim for payment to the federal government. These falsehoods may take the form of forged expense reports, overcharging for finished goods, or even submitting erroneous estimates on project lengths or costs.
A violation of the False Claims Act comes with severe consequences, including the repayment of funds that a contractor received as a product of their fraud. It is the potential for the recovery of funds that allows a whistleblower to demand a reward in exchange for their information through a writ of Qui Tam. A Lexington attorney could help potential whistleblowers to evaluate their current knowledge in greater depth and explain how coming forward with contractor fraud could benefit both the government and themselves.
The government relies on accurate billing and production practices from its contractors. However, every day, the government loses millions of dollars to individuals that violate the False Claims Act.
If you believe you are a witness to fraud, you can serve as a whistleblower. A Lexington government contractor fraud whistleblower lawyer could work with you to protect your rights in the workplace, obtain additional information about the fraud, and submit formal reports to the government. Our firm is highly experienced in helping individuals collect rewards through writs of Qui Tam and can put our decades of hands on knowledge to work for you. Contact Bill Nettles Law today to get started.