Month: September 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Richard G. Frohling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 1, 2022, a Hartford woman pled guilty to executing a multi-million-dollar wire fraud and money laundering scheme. Vicki Berka, (age: 61) pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and one count of money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957, for embezzling approximately $2.7 million from her former employer, Bader Rutter & Associates (“Bader”). 

According to the plea agreement, Berka admitted to engaging in a scheme to defraud Bader from July 2014 through approximately September 26, 2017. Berka used her position as Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and her bank account login credentials to make unauthorized ACH transfers from Bader’s health funding account to a bank account she controlled. Berka then falsified Bader’s general ledger by inflating the company’s reported healthcare expenditures to hide the amount of money she was embezzling.  Berka used over $250,000 in stolen proceeds to buy a beach condo in North Carolina.

Berka faces a maximum possible sentence of twenty years in prison for the wire fraud count, and ten years in prison for the money laundering count. Berka also faces fines of up to $250,000 per count and has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $2.7 million to Bader and its insurance company. Sentencing is scheduled for December 1, 2022, before Judge JP Stadtmueller.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter Smyczek.

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For further information contact: Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

(414) 297-1700

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

Jackson, Miss. –  A Jackson man pled guilty and was sentenced today to attempted robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Waddah Farah, 42, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Jackson.  Farah was also sentenced today after waiving any delay in sentencing.  He was ordered to serve 51 months in federal prison and pay a $1500 fine. 

According to court documents, Farah was arrested and indicted for the attempted robbery of a Dollar General store in Jackson on October 1, 2018. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Murray prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Jackson, Miss. – Darren J. LaMarca, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced today that Manpreet Kamboj and Gurdev Kamboj (aka David Singh) have agreed to pay $130,000 to resolve allegations that they knowingly falsified income to unlawfully create eligibility for Mississippi Medicaid health care benefits for their dependents.

The Medicaid Program is a state and federally funded health benefit program intended to assist low-income individuals and families. The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (MDOM) is the single state agency responsible for administering health care benefits for eligible, low-income individuals in Mississippi.

Despite Medicaid’s low-income requirement, the United States contends that Manpreet Kamboj and Gurdev Kamboj collectively owned and/or were associated with 48 convenience store/gas stations located in Mississippi and Louisiana.  The Kambojs also own a five-bedroom 7,850 square foot home located in Madison, Mississippi, most recently valued at 1.3 million dollars. 

According to the United States, the Kambojs falsely represented on various Mississippi Medicaid health care benefit applications and renewals that one of them was unemployed and that the household derived income from one convenience store/gas station.  As such, the United States alleges that from August 29, 2011, to February 28, 2022, the Kambojs caused the MDOM to pay over $70,000 in health care coverage benefits to which they were not entitled.  

“The Medicaid Program is intended to provide access to quality health coverage for vulnerable Mississippians,” said U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca.  “Our office will continue to pursue those individuals who unlawfully deplete valuable resources allocated for Medicaid eligible individuals and families.” 

The False Claims Act claims settled are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.  This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.