November 21, 2018

Andrew Otero and his company, A&D General Contracting, Inc. (“A&D”) were convicted of multiple charges after they were found guilty of constructing a scheme to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Army Corps of Engineers in order to obtain approximately $11 million in federal government construction contracts or task orders set aside for small businesses owned by disabled veterans. Otero, as shown by evidence at trial, does not have any military experience. Yet he and his co-conspirator Roger Ramsey, a veteran, and on behalf of his company, Action, formed a joint venture and falsely represented to the government that Action and the JV met the qualifications to be a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (“SDVOSB”), thus enabling them to bid on the contracts. Additionally, evidence at trial showed that the JV’s daily operations and decision-making did not function as would a legitimate SDVOSB. All four defendants are also facing civil charges. Sentencing will take place on February 19, 2019.    DOJ

Tagged in: Government Procurement Fraud, Set-Asides and Preferences,