April 8, 2015

Orlando-based Air Ideal Inc. and its majority owner, Kim Amkraut, agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations they made false statements to the Small Business Administration to improperly obtain certification as a Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) company.  They must also pay five percent of Air Ideal’s gross revenues over the next five years.  Specifically, the government alleged Air Ideal used its fraudulently-procured HUBZone certification to obtain contracts from the US Coast Guard, US Army, US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Department of the Interior.  The allegations first arose in a whistleblower complaint filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by Patricia Hopson.  She will receive a whistleblower award of $42,500.  DOJ

Tagged in: Defense Contract Fraud, FCA Federal, Government Procurement Fraud, Set-Asides and Preferences, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,