Last week, the fight against fraud saw a united front as U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino and the Anti-Fraud Coalition (TAFC) joined forces to host a roundtable discussion centered on qui tam cases and the civil False Claims Act (FCA). The U.S. Attorney's Office affirmed their pledge to side with whistleblowers and their legal teams to hunt down false claims eating into government funds.
Restaino and his crew from the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit enlightened an audience comprised of whistleblower-specialist attorneys. They dove into strategies for prosecutors to strengthen ties with whistleblowers under the qui tam provisions of the FCA, according to a statement. Signaling the gravity of government fraud, Restaino declared, “In our affirmative civil enforcement work we protect the public fisc. We also celebrate the courage of whistleblowers, the energy, compassion and collegiality of the private plaintiffs’ bar, and the hard work and dedication of federal lawyers, auditors and investigators.”
Under the FCA, whistleblowers, known as "relators", can take the lead on filing actions under seal for Uncle Sam against those who play the system. Settlements or judgments that favor the government can mean a payday for whistleblowers. The TAFC representative led the discussion, which highlighted the symbiotic relationship between public and private sectors in combating fraud.
The Arizona front has been a hotbed for qui tam actions, with filings spikes of 170% between 2008 to 2017 and continued growth until 2023. The federal coffers reclaimed significant funds through these efforts, impacting sectors as diverse as healthcare and defense, as well as programs including COVID-19 relief, Restaino's office reported.
For those in the know of any shady dealings harming federal programs, the call to action is clear. To serve up a tip, contact the necessary federal agency. Links to these agencies can be found at the U.S. Attorney's Office website.
