A Colorado-based laser manufacturer will pay $400,000 to settle a case brought against the company by the Department of Justice under the False Claims Act.
Vescent Photonics has agreed to pay $402,621 to resolve allegations that it used contractors located outside the United States in research projects funded by the Small Business Innovation Research program.
The federal contractor, which manufactures and researches complex laser technology, had received SBIR awards from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Air Force.
Under the Small Business Innovation Research program, federal government agencies make awards to small companies for domestic research and development (R&D), but the awards stipulate that all R&D must be carried out within the United States.
Commenting on the case, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan said: “SBIR funds are intended to help support qualified small businesses in the United States, and to encourage domestic innovation and domestic technology development.”
“Diverting SBIR funds to foreign nationals located abroad undermines the purpose of this funding and violates the rules of the SBIR program,” he added.
Assistant Inspector General for Investigations at NASA’s Office of Inspector General Bob Steinau said: “The settlement agreement with Vescent Photonics is the result of a joint effort to protect SBIR contracts from fraud and abuse, and this case demonstrates the commitment of the NASA OIG and our law...
Patricia White, 70, of Old Greenwich, received a nine-month prison sentence for submitting false claims for unclaimed properties to around 30 state treasuries. HARRISBURG, Pa. — Months after her br...