News

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued two reports today concluding that GSA-managed facilities are at an increased risk of unauthorized access due to GSA’s lack of controls over facility specific building access badges and deficiencies in GSA’s management of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards issued to contractors. Unauthorized access to these facilities increases the risk of a security event such as an active shooter, terrorist attack, theft of government property, or exposure of sensitive information.

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that MCC Construction Company (MCC) has agreed to pay $1,769,294 in criminal penalties and forfeiture for conspiring to commit fraud on the United States by illegally obtaining government contracts that were intended for small, disadvantaged businesses.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Eric M. Shaffer, 42, of Modesto, was sentenced today by United States District Judge John A. Mendez to one year and a day in prison for theft of Department of Defense property worth more than $316,000, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

The Department of Justice announced today that Wisconsin-based Novum Structures LLC (Novum) has agreed to enter a guilty plea and pay $3 million to resolve its criminal and civil liability arising from its improper use of foreign materials on construction projects involving federal funds. This use was in violation of contractual provisions implementing various domestic preference statutes, often referred to colloquially as the “Buy America” requirements. Novum specializes in the design and construction of glass space frames often used in roofs and atrium enclosures.

LOS ANGELES – A man who operated two businesses that sold office supplies to the federal government has been convicted by a federal jury of giving illegal gifts to federal employees who did business with his companies.

Earlier today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (“the Office”) filed fraud charges in Brooklyn federal court against Tishman Construction Corporation (“Tishman Construction”), one of the largest construction companies in New York City. Tishman Construction is charged with mail and wire fraud conspiracy for improperly billing its clients more than $5 million over a ten-year period for hours not worked and at rates that were in excess of the agreed upon contract rate.

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - The co-owner of a defunct Missouri construction company has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for defrauding a federal program that set aside contracts for businesses owned by service-disabled veterans, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Thursday.

On October 28, 2015, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) special agents from New York City recovered a Works Progress Administration (WPA) etching, “Manhattan from Brooklyn” by artist Mortimor Borne, from an antiques store in Hopewell, New Jersey.

Timothy Francis Cashman, a Building Manager for the General Services Administration (“GSA”), was sentenced to 16 months in custody today for accepting bribes and stealing property owned by the United States.

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Missouri woman was sentenced Tuesday to 20 months in federal prison for defrauding a federal program that set aside contracts for businesses owned by service-disabled veterans, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. In addition, she was ordered to pay a $30,000 money judgment.