Internal Investigations and False Claims Act Matters

Defending Government Contractors Accused of Fraud: What You Need to Know

Government contracting is a trillion-dollar industry that encompasses everything from technologically advanced defense systems to general construction projects. Federal contracts can be lucrative, but they come with risks. Contractors must comply with certain bidding practices and their performance may be heavily scrutinized by government agencies like the Department of Justice (DOJ). If accused of fraud, contractors may face significant criminal and civil repercussions.

When government contractors take on a project, they need to comply with several requirements; failure to do so can cause them to be liable under statutes like the False Claims Act. The biggest key statute regarding government contractors is the False Claims Act which explicitly prohibits every possible type of fraud in government contracting. Other statutes that may be used include the Procurement Integrity Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, and any statutes regarding mail and wire fraud.

If you are a government contractor who has been investigated for potential violations of these laws or other related issues such as whistleblower complaints or internal investigations then it’s important that you get in contact with an experienced attorney immediately.

Defending Government Contractors Accused of Fraud: How Attorneys Can Help

Attorneys who defend government contractors need to have experience dealing with federal prosecutors, DOJ officials, and other federal agencies involved in investigating allegations against contractors. They should also have knowledge about relevant laws related to fraud committed by companies working on behalf of governments at all levels – local through national – including state-level procurement regulations if applicable.

An attorney can guide a contractor through both criminal and civil investigations while helping them understand what they’re facing and what their options are. The ultimate goal is usually preventing termination or unnecessary fines associated with non-compliance during contract work performed under agreements between private entities acting as agents for public entities such as municipalities or states where there might not always exist clear lines delineating responsibilities among parties involved due largely because many times these arrangements involve multiple layers within each organization.

One of the best things you can do when a problem arises is to conduct an internal investigation as quickly as possible. It’s important to acknowledge and correct any issues in your contract work. Doing this helps prevent liability under the False Claims Act, which could result in significant fines or even criminal charges if found guilty.

A law firm can help with an internal investigation by taking you through each step of the process to ensure that all records are adequately accounted for while also helping create policies and protocols for future use should similar issues arise again down the line.

Federal Investigations: What Contractors Need To Know

If a federal agency such as DOJ initiates an investigation into potential fraud committed by government contractors, it’s essential that they understand certain key pieces when building their defense:

1. Which agencies are part of the investigation? The DOJ will typically lead investigations but other agencies may be involved too.
2. Which statutes are involved in the investigation? Nearly every case will involve False Claims Act violations, but it’s important to know if other statutes apply.
3. What caused the investigation? Was it initiated by a whistleblower or was it independent action taken by one or more agencies?

Contractors need experienced attorneys who have dealt with these types of cases before and who can provide guidance on how best to proceed during investigations while minimizing risk exposure associated with non-compliance during contract work performed under agreements between private entities acting as agents for public entities such as municipalities or states where there might not always exist clear lines delineating responsibilities among parties involved due largely because many times these arrangements involve multiple layers within each organization.

Conclusion

Government contracting is a lucrative industry worth trillions of dollars annually; however, contractors must comply with various requirements related to bidding practices and performance standards set forth by government agencies like DOJ officials investigating allegations against them regarding fraudulent activities committed while working on behalf of governments at all levels – local through national – including state-level procurement regulations if applicable.

Attorneys who defend government contractors need to have experience dealing with federal prosecutors, DOJ officials, and other federal agencies involved in investigating allegations against contractors. They should also have knowledge about relevant laws related to fraud committed by companies working on behalf of governments at all levels.

If you are a government contractor facing an investigation or potential violations of the False Claims Act or other statutes related to fraudulent activities while performing contract work for public entities such as municipalities or states where there might not always exist clear lines delineating responsibilities among parties involved due largely because many times these arrangements involve multiple layers within each organization then it’s important that you get in contact with an experienced attorney immediately.