RALEIGH, N.C. (NCN News) — A one-million-dollar settlement has been reached between the federal government and a Maxton firm and its owner over overstated repair costs for police office locations.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District North Carolina, A-Plus Management, LLC and its owner, Jared Chavis of Maxton, agreed to pay $1,000,000 to the U.S. government to resolve alleged false claims for overstated repairs at United States Postal Service (USPS) facilities.
“This civil fraud settlement demonstrates our commitment to protect taxpayer money from dishonest contractors,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Our office zealously pursues those who submit false invoices to wrongfully take government funds, whether large or small amounts.”
This settlement arose from allegations that A-Plus and Jared Chavis falsely overstated labor, mischarged travel expenses, altered invoices, and failed to provide accurate documentation for repairs at USPS properties.
The False Claims Act allows the Government to seek recovery of three times the money falsely obtained, plus substantial penalties for each false claim submitted. It should be noted that the civil claims resolved by settlement here are allegations only, that there has been no judicial determination or admission of liability, and that A-Plus and Jared Chavis deny these fraud allegations.