A settlement has been reached to resolve False Claims Act allegations against Omega Protein Corp and Omega Protein Inc (collectively “Omega”).
The allegations arose from a lawsuit that claimed Omega obtained a loan from the United States by falsely certifying compliance with federal environmental laws.
According to the government, allegedly, Omega violated the False Claims Act in March 2010 when it certified to the Department of Commerce that it was complying with federal environmental laws to obtain a $10 million loan. At the time Omega submitted the certification, it was knowingly violating the Clean Water Act (CWA). In 2013, Omega Protein, Inc. pled guilty to violations of the CWA between May 2008 and December 2010, by unlawfully discharging pollutants into U.S. waters and, between April 2009 and September 2010, by unlawfully discharging a harmful quantity of oil into U.S. waters.
“This settlement demonstrates our continuing vigilance in protecting the integrity of federal programs and taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “Companies will face appropriate consequences if they misrepresent their eligibility to participate in federal programs and divert resources from those who should receive federal support.”
The whistleblower, Keland O. Harrison, a former employee of Omega, will receive $200,000 of the settlement proceeds.
