OAG Lawsuit Alleges Sequoia Row, Owned by Georgia Residents, Fraudulently Secured Over $13 Million in Government Contracts by Exploiting Program Intended to Help Small Local Businesses
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today filed a lawsuit against Sequoia Row Consulting, LLC (Sequoia Row), and its owner and CEO, Paul Lawrence, for exploiting DC’s Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) program and fraudulently securing over $13 million in DC government contracts reserved for DC local businesses.
Sequoia Row provides construction and janitorial services in the District of Columbia. In its suit, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) details how Sequoia Row and Lawrence fraudulently maintained certifications as a local, small, and resident-owned business—which gave the company preference in the local government contracting process—despite being ineligible because the company does not have a primary office in the District and the owners reside in Georgia. Using its fraudulent certifications, Sequoia Row bid on and was awarded more than three dozen DC government contracts, including at least 32 contracts specifically reserved for local businesses. OAG also illustrates how for years, Sequoia Row misclassified janitorial workers as independent contractors instead of classifying them as employees—depriving them of overtime wages, prevailing wages, paid sick leave, and other benefits—and alleges that the company failed to pay what it owes to DC workforce programs, including workers...
The Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has noted with concern the circulation of unfounded and misleading claims suggesting that its petroleum products are exported to Lom...