Savannah River Nuclear Site Contractor Settles False Claims Act Allegations for $1.6 million

United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced Tuesday that Richard Moore of Aiken, South Carolina, the owner of Carolina Sodding Services, LLC, and Carolina Enterprises of the Lowcountry, LLC, has agreed to pay $1.6 million to resolve allegations that he and his companies violated the False Claims Act by submitting false invoices for materials that were never provided and false certifications that his companies were women-owned businesses.  Mr. Moore and his companies were contracted to perform work at the Savannah River Nuclear Site in Aiken.

“Those who seek to do business with the federal government must do so fairly and honestly,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon.  “Through False Claims Act cases like this one, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina will continue to hold accountable those who knowingly seek taxpayer funds to which they are not entitled.”

Teri L. Donaldson, Department of Energy Inspector General said, “The Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring the integrity of Department contracts by detecting and holding accountable those who choose to engage in false claim schemes. This settlement is a result of our staff’s dedicated work to ensure public funds are used for the mission-related purposes for which they are intended.  We appreciate the efforts of the Department of Justice in pursuing this matter and will continue to work collaboratively with them to aggressively investigate those who seek to defraud Department programs.”

The False Claims Act is the United States’ primary civil remedy to redress false claims for government funds and property under government programs and contracts relating to such varied areas as health care, defense and national security, food safety and inspection, federally insured loans and mortgages, highway funds, small business contracts, agricultural subsidies,  and disaster assistance.

Deputy Civil Chief James Leventis of the Columbia office handled the case.  The case was investigated by the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General.

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

This is a press release from the DOJ.