Settlement With Martin Enterprises, Inc. and Its Surety for Submitting False Claims For Demolition Work Under the U.S. Treasury's Blight Elimination Program - InsuranceNewsNet

InsuranceNewsNet

Sign in
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home Now reading newswires
Topics
  • Life Insurance
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Property & Casualty
  • Advisor News
  • Washington Wire
  • Fiduciary Rule
  • INN Exclusives
  • Newswires
  • INNsider
  • INN Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • Magazine
Sign in or register to be an INNsider.
  • INN Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • ★ Regulation News
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Staff
  • Contact
  • Susbcribe

Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Google+
Insider
newswires
newswires RSS Get our newsletter
Order Prints Share
October 6, 2018 newswires No comments Views: 66

Settlement With Martin Enterprises, Inc. and Its Surety for Submitting False Claims For Demolition Work Under the U.S. Treasury’s Blight Elimination Program

Targeted News Service (Press Releases)

FORT WAYNE, Indiana, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, issued the following news release:

United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II announced today a pre-suit settlement under the False Claims Act for fraudulently submitted claims payable with federal Blight Elimination Program funds for demolition work not performed properly.

During 2008, the United States Department of the Treasury (Treasury) created the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to stabilize the economy during the financial crisis. During 2010, Treasury created the Hardest Hit Fund, Blight Elimination Program (BEP), one of several TARP programs, which funded the demolition of abandoned and blighted residential properties in designated cities. The Special Inspector General for TARP (SIGTARP) is responsible for investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in the BEP. The State of Indiana, through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, administered the BEP program in Indiana using federal BEP funds. The City of Fort Wayne, Indiana (Fort Wayne) was a BEP program partner that awarded contracts to Martin Enterprises, Inc. (Martin) to demolish houses on blighted properties using federal BEP funds.

Martin and its surety, Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company, have agreed to pay $61,016 to resolve the United States' claims under the False Claims Act for fraudulently submitting claims for federal BEP funds for demolition and fill work done in Fort Wayne from February-September 2017. Specifically, after demolition, instead of filling the excavation sites with clean fill as required by the contract, Martin filled the excavation sites with construction debris and then falsely billed and received payments from the federal BEP program as if they had used clean fill. Under the settlement, Martin repays the $30,508 of federal BEP funds that Martin received for the fraudulently billed claims, and also pays a civil penalty of $30,508.

"We will not tolerate dishonest contractors who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of federal taxpayers," said United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II. "My Office's Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit will continue to require contractors who submit fraudulent claims for federal government funds to reimburse the government for their ill-gotten gains and also pay civil penalties under the False Claims Act."

"Dumping of potentially contaminated building material on blighted properties by the only Hardest Hit Fund-paid demolition contractor in Fort Wayne put residents and communities at risk while fleecing taxpayers," said Christy Goldsmith Romero, Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. "I thank U.S. Attorney Kirsch and his Office's Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit for standing with SIGTARP in the fight against fraud in TARP's Blight Elimination Program."

This settlement was reached as a result of an investigation by the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program of the United States Department of the Treasury. Assistant United States Attorney Wayne T. Ault handled the settlement negotiations.

Older

Rep. Gottheimer Announces $19.5 Million in Clean Water Resources for Fair Lawn Families

Newer

Want to Save on Insurance? Learn about GEICO’s Discount Programs

Advisor News

  • Baby Boomers Flocking To A Mexican Retirement
  • Retired Massachusetts Landscaper Scammed Out Of $100K, State Says
  • MDRT Study Finds Consumers Want Advisors Over Tech
  • Your Clients Should Plan Retirement Savings To Last 23 Years
  • Robert Moore Steps Down As CEO Of Cetera, Due To Health Reasons
More Advisor News

Annuity News

  • Arizona The Latest State To Attempt An Annuity Sales Rule
  • Nick Lane Assumes Role As President Of AXA Equitable Life
  • Annuity Sales Spiked 14 Percent In 2018, No Slowdown In Sight
  • Speak Out: NAIC Gets Plenty Of Advice On Annuity Sales Rule
  • Lincoln Financial Introduces Annuity Designed For Retirement Rollover Dollars
More Annuity News

Health/Employee Benefits

  • Kansas GOP Pushes For Cheaper Health Plans That May Not Cover Pre-Existing Conditions
  • A Tax Penalty Could Help Shore Up Obamacare In California
  • Government Headed For Close To Half The Nation’s Health Tab
  • National Health Expenditures To Hit $6T By 2027, CMS Predicts
  • Florida Governor Wants To Import Drugs From Canada
More Health/Employee Benefits

Life Insurance

  • Family Turns To Crowdfunding To Pay For Loved One’s Funeral
  • AM Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Rating Outlook For Principal Financial
  • AIG Sets New Term Life Insurance Rates
  • Northwestern Mutual Reports Strong 2018 Financial Results
  • Florida Police: Niece Steals $188,000, Life Insurance, From Aunt
Sponsor
More Life Insurance

Sign up for our FREE e-Newsletter!

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and money- making insights straight into your inbox.
select Newsletter Options

Most Popular

  • Northwestern Ramps Up Recruiting For ‘Unique’ Model
  • Arizona The Latest State To Attempt An Annuity Sales Rule
  • Agent Commissions Rise For Annuities in 1Q
  • Ohio National Lawsuit Re-Filed; Attorney Says More Coming
  • Understanding The Benefits Of Whole Life Insurance

Featured Offers

Text Ads

Press ReleasesAll press releases

  • LegacyShield® Launches MyTax, An Integrated Solution for Simplified, Professionally Prepared, Tax Returns
  • Nassau Re Launches Insurtech Incubator Will Give Space and Support to Startups in Hartford
  • Peerfit Prepares for Medicare Expansion with Peerfit Move, Recruits Industry Veteran
  • Great American’s Annuity Customers Share Their Secrets to a Great Retirement
  • Securian Financial Introduces Affordable, Protection-Focused IUL with No-Lapse Guarantee
Add your Press Release >

Topics

  • Life Insurance
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Property and Casualty News
  • Advisor News
  • Washington Wire
  • Regulation

Top Sections

  • INN Exclusives
  • INN Insider

Our Company

  • About
  • Editorial Staff
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Sign up for our FREE e-Newsletter!

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and money- making insights straight into your inbox.

select Newsletter Options
Facebook Linkedin Twitter Google+
© 2019 InsuranceNewsNet.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • AdvisorNews

Sign in with your INNsider Account

Not registered? Become an INNsider.