{"id":19578,"date":"2016-01-22T11:20:59","date_gmt":"2016-01-22T19:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=19578"},"modified":"2016-01-22T11:20:59","modified_gmt":"2016-01-22T19:20:59","slug":"big-brotherssisters-to-pay-1-6-million-for-false-claims-for-federal-grants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=19578","title":{"rendered":"Big Brothers\/Sisters to Pay $1.6 Million for Making False Claims for Federal Grants"},"content":{"rendered":"

PENNSYLVANIA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Corp.<\/strong>\u00a0agreed to pay the federal government $1.6 million to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims to get federal funds to help children at risk, the Justice Department announced today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Big Brothers is a not-for-profit organization that provides mentoring services to boys and girls throughout the United States.\u00a0 The organization, originally based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is now headquartered in Tampa, Florida.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOrganizations such as Big Brothers do great work, but in carrying out their mission they also have an obligation to the populations they serve and to the taxpayer to ensure that government grant funds are used responsibly according to the rules,\u201d said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department\u2019s Civil Division.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cThe settlement announced today exemplifies the Department\u2019s commitment to hold those who mishandle such funds accountable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe U.S. Attorney\u2019s office is committed to protecting federal grants and ensuring that the funds are appropriately spent,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of Pennsylvania.<\/strong> \u201cFederal grant recipients must administer these grants with transparency and diligence, and the compliance measures\u00a0implemented pursuant to this settlement agreement will help to achieve those goals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Big Brothers is a national organization that acts through approximately 300 independent affiliate agencies across the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2004, Big Brothers has received millions of dollars in grants from the Justice Department to support initiatives on behalf of children at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a condition of those grants, Big Brothers was required to maintain sound accounting and financial management systems and ensure that grant funds would be properly accounted and used.<\/span><\/p>\n

The federal alleges that Big Brothers violated these guidelines with respect to three grants awarded by the Justice Department from 2009 to 2011.<\/span><\/p>\n

The violations occurred when the organization commingled\u00a0the grant funds with general operating funds. The also failed to segregate expenditures to ensure that the funds were used as intended.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, they failed to maintain internal financial controls to safeguard the proper use of those funds, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

These allegations were the focus of a 2013 audit of the three grants performed by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2013, officials said Big Brothers has replaced its management team and begun implementing policies governing the use of federal grant funds, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe appreciate the support of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Civil Division in working with us on these kinds of cases,\u201d said Department of Justice Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cThe OIG\u2019s auditors and investigators will continue to work with each other closely to uncover misuses of grant funds, and with our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to paying the United States $1.6 million, and as part of the settlement, Big Brothers agreed to do the following:<\/span><\/p>\n