DOJ Catch of the Week -- Indiana University/HealthNet
Posted 04/28/17
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
This week's Department of Justice "Catch of the Week" goes to Indiana University Health Inc. and HealthNet Inc. Yesterday, they agreed to pay $18 million to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute by engaging in an illegal kickback scheme related to the referral of HealthNet’s OB/GYN patients to IU Health’s Methodist Hospital....
Last week, 
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
Facing impeachment, Alabama governor Robert Bentley resigned on Monday after an ethics report revealed that he used state resources to conceal an extramarital affair with his adviser, Rebekah Caldwell Mason. Bentley was charged with, and has since pled guilty to, two misdemeanors—one for failing to file a major contribution report, and another for knowingly converting...
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
On Monday, financial advisor Charles A. Banks IV pleaded guilty to wire fraud after duping NBA legend Tim Duncan into entering a shoddy multi-million dollar investment deal. Banks, a 49-year-old wine executive who runs Terroir Capital, could face up to 20 years in prison.
In 2012, Banks convinced Duncan to invest $7.5 million into Gameday Merchandising LLC, a flailing...
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams on charges of bribery and fraud. The 50-page, 23-count 
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
On Tuesday, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office filed suit against Osmosis LLC and Harmonized Water LLC, two Colorado-based companies that have been hawking a “drinkable sunscreen” product to consumers. The lawsuit alleges that the companies, both of which are owned by Benjamin Taylor Johnson, deceived Iowans by advertising water with properties it did not have. The...
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
Yesterday, opening statements took place in the trial of Florida doctor Salomon Melgen, who stands accused of defrauding Medicare of tens of millions of dollars. Melgen has also made headlines for his suspect financial relationship with U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, and is expected to face a separate trial on bribery charges in New Jersey later this year.
According to...
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
This week's Department of Justice "Catch of the Week" goes to ZTE Corporation. On Tuesday, the Chinese telecom equipment maker agreed to enter a guilty plea and pay a $430 million penalty for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by illegally shipping U.S.-origin items to Iran. ZTE simultaneously reached settlements with the Department of...
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
Last week, Atlanta-based SunTrust revealed that the Securities and Exchange Commission is considering bringing fraud charges against it. The disclosure, which SunTrust made in its annual SEC filing, explains that the SEC’s enforcement division “made a preliminary determination to recommend that the SEC bring an enforcement action” against SunTrust Investment Services, the...
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
As the rest of Hollywood prepares for Sunday night’s Oscar ceremony, Johnny Depp is gearing up to fight his financial advisers in court. Last month, the Pirates of the Caribbean star sued his long-time advisers at The Management Group, alleging that they “engaged in years of gross mismanagement, self-dealing, and at times, actual fraud.” The Management Group has since...