OKLAHOMA CITY – Omega Technology Center, Inc. (“Omega”) and its owners Todd and Kristie Greenway (the “Greenways”) agreed to pay $54,000 to settle civil claims stemming from allegations they submitted false claims involving a program of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
The Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) is a not-for-profit entity that administers an FCC program called E-Rate. The E-Rate program is designed to improve the telecommunication capabilities of schools and libraries, particularly those in indigent areas. It does so by subsidizing the cost of new telecommunication equipment and services, and internal connections, to bring connectivity within the school or library (such as cabling, routers, and servers), as well as maintenance services.
Omega is a for profit business located in Duncan, Oklahoma, that provides information technology support to schools in Oklahoma. The United States alleges that Omega and the Greenways submitted invoices for payment to USAC under the E-Rate program for goods and services that were never provided to the Fort Towson school district for the 2010 and 2012 E-Rate years. To resolve the claims, Omega and the Greenways agreed to pay $54,000 to the United States, and to not participate in any FCC program administered by the USAC for a period of at least three years.
In reaching this settlement, Omega and the Greenways did not admit liability, and the government did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims. The agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case.
This case was investigated by Federal Communications Commission, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald R. Gallegos and Scott Maule prosecuted