A look back at the week’s news and developments affecting whistleblowers.

United States Joins Lawsuit Against AECOM Alleging False Claims in Connection with Hurricane Disaster Relief

The United States has intervened in a whistleblower lawsuit against AECOM, an architecture and engineering firm based in Los Angeles, California. The DOJ reports that AECOM received more than $300 million from FEMA as a technical assistance contractor as part of FEMA’s disaster response to Hurricane Katrina. AECOM alleging used inflated repair estimates and other false information that improperly increased their funding. The lawsuit was initiated by a whistleblower, an AECOM employee. The whistleblower will receive a $2.3 million award for his disclosure. To read more, click here.

Leader of $50 Million Health Care Fraud Pleads Guilty

William Hickman, of Northfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Hickman was the mastermind of a prescription drug scheme which caused more than $50 million in losses to state health benefit programs and insurers. Hickman was a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company and would persuade patients to receive compounded medications they didn’t need so that he could seek reimbursement. As part of his plea, Hickman agreed to pay more than $53 million in restitution. To read more, click here.

3 Charged in $180 Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

This week an indictment against three individuals for their alleged involvement in various schemes to defraud Medicare and TRICARE was unsealed. The conduct allegedly resulted in more than $180 million in fraudulent billing. The schemes included soliciting and paying kickbacks and bribes to marketers, physicians, and beneficiaries to refer and prescribe prescriptions for medically unnecessary compound medications. For the full coverage, click here for the DOJ press release.

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