Criminal Investigative Updates

Britney Sherene Curry, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was indicted for conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, making false statements under oath on immigration documents, unlawfully procuring citizenship, mail fraud, and wire fraud. This indictment was pursued through the establishment of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Curry, a Jamaican National, entered the United States on a six-month B-2 visa in 2015. Curry allegedly paid a third-party to arrange a fraudulent marriage between herself and a US citizen for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. After the marriage, Curry became a lawful permanent resident of the US then joined the US Army which allowed her to apply to become a naturalized citizen immediately, instead of having to wait a minimum of three years. Less than two years after joining the Army, Curry applied for a medical discharge and was awarded VA disability compensation. This case was investigated by the VA OIG, Department of Homeland Security OIG, Immigration and Customs Enforcement—Enforcement and Removal Operations, US Citizenship and Immigration Services—National Benefits Center, and the US Army Criminal Investigations Division.

Broadway Electric Inc. (Broadway), Cornerstone Contracting Inc. (Cornerstone), Chief Executive Officer John Oehler, and President Christian Blake agreed to pay $21.3 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations. The settlement resolves claims that the defendants engaged in a coordinated scheme to obtain federal set-aside contracts for which Broadway and Cornerstone were not eligible by using purported service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and other small businesses as pass-through entities. They secured bonding, selected subcontractors and personnel to perform contract work, and primarily controlled project execution and financial administration. The VA OIG led the investigation, with assistance from the Government Services Administration OIG, the Small Business Administration OIG, the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the US Postal Inspection Service investigated this case.

Lakeysha Day, of Columbia, Missouri, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for her involvement in a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Day admitted that she had completed and submitted a PPP loan application falsely claiming that she was the sole proprietor of a business that had an average monthly payroll of $8,000. As a result she received $20,000 by wire transfer. The VA OIG investigated this case.

Rosanne Marquis, of Santa Barbara, California, was charged with 77 felonies in connection with an unlicensed in-home healthcare business she operated. Allegedly, Marquis stole from elderly dependent adults, including a veteran, failed to supply accurate tax returns, and failed to make required deductions and payments on behalf of her employees for years. The VA OIG and the California Employment Development Department investigated this case.

Government contractors Officium Global LLC and Loyal Source Government Services LLC have agreed to pay more than $3.6 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act and Contract Disputes Act. Officium Global submitted, or caused to be submitted, false certifications and statements representing that it met the requirements to be a service-disabled veteran-owned small business when it did not and was granted seven set-aside contracts. Officium Global will pay over $1.8 million as part of the settlement. Loyal Source Government Services allegedly violated the Contract Disputes Act by causing breaches of the contracts awarded to Officium Global. Loyal Source Government Services will pay over $1.8 million as part of the settlement. The VA OIG and the Small Business Administration investigated this case.