ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Allegations Of Evading Import Duties
Knowing Falsifications On Customs Declarations
Misrepresentations And Evasion Constitute False Claims
The False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 et seq. reaches to any kind of fraud against the government for payments made by the government based on false claims or to evasion by fraud of moneys owed the government. Individuals with information on the fraud can bring suits on behalf of the United States government to recover. However the fraud occurs, individuals who have original information of the fraud may be rewarded for helping the government recover. The whistleblower attorneys at Evans Law Firm, Inc. represent whistleblowers/relators in FCA cases of any variety. If you have credible, original information for a false claims case or any other whistleblower case in California, call us today at (415)441-8669 and we can help.
As one recently settled FCA case[1] illustrates the reach of the FCA is broad. In the case an individual sued an importer in an FCA action claiming that the defendant falsified the country of origin and value of goods it imported into the US in an attempt to evade customs duties on those imported goods. The complaint alleged that defendant avoided payment of duties on more than $500 million worth of goods imported into the US over a six-year period. Defendant also misclassified many of the imported goods allegedly in violation of free trade agreements and federal anti-dumping regulations. The whistleblower’s complaint launched an investigation by the Department of Justice and enforcement divisions of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.
Whistleblower Rewarded
The defendant settled the allegations for approximately $22.2 million and the whistleblower will receive an estimated $3.7 million for her efforts. “This settlement reflects our commitment to hold accountable those who evade duties owed on imported goods, including antidumping and countervailing duties that level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will zealously pursue those who seek an unfair advantage in U.S. markets by bringing underpriced goods into this country.”
Contact Us
The reported case demonstrates that individuals with any information of fraud against the government may have the basis for an FCA action for which they can be rewarded if the government recovers money from the wrongdoer. Ingrid M. Evans and the other whistleblower attorneys at Evans Law Firm, Inc. can help you if have that kind of information of fraud. Ingrid also handles whistleblower cases involving bank fraud under FIRREA/FIAFEA, commodity trading and securities fraud under the Commodities Futures Trading Commission Whistleblower Program and the Securities and Exchange Commission Whistleblower Program, and tax fraud under the Internal Revenue Service Whistleblower Program. If you have information regarding false claims, or other fraud against the federal government or the State of California, contact Ingrid M. Evans and the other California whistleblower attorneys at Evans Law Firm at (415) 441-8669, or by email at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>.
[1] United States ex rel. Johnson v. Linde AG, et al., No. 17-cv-1012 (E.D. Pa.). Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the case in any way.
