WASHINGTON – The former Chief Executive Officer of Souktel, Inc., Jacob Korenblum, has agreed to pay the United States $100,000 to resolve allegations that he knowingly caused employees of the company to submit false claims to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in Souktel’s performance of grants and contracts to provide customized technology platforms on aid projects in developing countries.
The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Special Agent in Charge Vanessa Freeman for the USAID Office of Inspector General.
“Companies and individuals that do business with the federal government have a responsibility to have controls in place to prevent overbilling and charge only for the work that is actually performed,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “This case underscores our resolve to work with USAID and other partners to promote accountability and protect taxpayers’ money. It also underscores that companies that discover and disclose their wrongdoing and cooperate in the government’s investigation will be in a far better position than those that fail to disclose their wrongdoing.”
“USAID-funded organizations must ensure that invoices submitted to the government for payment reflect actual work performed on a project,” said USAID OIG Special Agent in Charge Freeman. “USAID OIG, using its global investigative resources, will continue to work with the Department of Justice to hold accountable those who compromise the integrity...
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