Florida-based contractors HX5 LLC, its CEO Margarita Howard, and the affiliated joint venture HX5 Sierra LLC will pay $7,759,693.92 to settle allegations of violating the False Claims Act. The United States government accused the companies and Howard of providing false information about their eligibility for federal set-aside contracts for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
“Small business set-aside contracts assist small businesses, including socially disadvantaged companies, to compete in the American economy,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton. “When companies misrepresent their eligibility for such contracts, other small businesses are denied the business opportunities intended by Congress.”
The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) business development program, designed to aid small businesses owned and controlled by disadvantaged individuals, came into the spotlight with these allegations. The accused parties were alleged to have fraudulently procured six 8(a) contracts from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021.
Specifically, the government alleged that HX5 and Howard failed to report distributions and payments to Howard’s family members and provided false information to the SBA regarding Howard’s assets. If accurate information had been given, it would have led to HX5’s removal from the SBA 8(a) Program, making HX5 Sierra ineligible for 8(a) set-aside contracts. Due to...
CHARLOTTE — A man is suing Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden and his office, claiming incorrect charges were posted on the county’s public mugshot website, damaging his reputation. Joseph ...