VESTAL, N.Y. (WBNG) — A Vestal company and its owner were ordered to pay thousands to the federal government after allegations that they violated the False Claims Act during the COVID-19 pandemic.
M Squared Staffin LLC, the former operator of the Vestal Coal House, and its owner, Mark Mushalla, were ordered to pay $130,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying the restaurant was eligible to receive funding from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).
It was learned that in 2020, M Squared operated a cafe and events center at the Vestal Coal House at 204 Stage Road in Vestal, pursuant to a license agreement with the Town of Vestal. That agreement expired on December 31, 2020, and M Squared vacated the Coal House location and removed the restaurant equipment from the space.
M Squared and Musahlla admitted that the restaurant permanently closed before M Squared applied for RRF funding. On May 4, 2021, M Squared applied to the Small Business Administration for an RRF grant on behalf of the business identified in the application as “M Squared Staffing LLC, doing business as Vestal Coal House.” Mushalla completed and signed the application on behalf of M Squared, the DOJ said.
On the application, Mushalla marked “No” where it asked whether the business was permanently closed. Despite M Squared being a legal entity, the Vestal Coal House had permanently closed and was not eligible to receive an RRF grant.
The DOJ learned...
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