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News & Investigation Specific Documents



June 6, 2023 - DOJ StatementKentucky Businessmen Sentenced in Decade Long Scheme to Defraud the FCCThe US Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the conviction and sentencing of two Kentucky businessmen for a decade long scheme to defraud the FCC’s E-rate program. Charles A. “Chuck” Jones and Mark J. Whitaker each pled guilty in Memphis federal court; Jones to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Whitaker to misprision of a felony (wire fraud). Jones paid kickbacks for approximately 10 years to an E-rate consultant working with Missouri and Tennessee schools and Jones, the consultant and Whitaker each made false statements and submitted fabricated documents to the E-rate program regarding copays and the fair and open competitive bidding in order to obtain E-rate funds for Jones’s companies. Jones was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and to pay restitution of $3.5 million and Whitaker was sentenced to one year of probation. FCC-OIG and FBI conducted the investigation and the USAO WDTN prosecuted the defendants.

May 11, 2023 - DOJ StatementGCI Communications Corp. to Pay More than $40 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to FCC’s Rural Health Care ProgramGCI Communications Corp. (GCI), located in Anchorage, Alaska, has agreed to pay $40,242,546 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly inflating its prices and violating Federal Communications Commission (FCC) competitive bidding regulations in connection with GCI’s participation in the FCC’s Rural Health Care Program. The program provides more than $570 million each year to assist rural health care providers with their telecommunications needs. The investigation and settlement resolution of this matter was a result of a coordinated effort between FCC's Office of Inspector General, FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

February 28, 2023 - DOJ StatementSeven Defendants Sentenced For Defrauding FCC's "E-Rate" Program of Several Million Dollars That Provided Technology Funding For Rockland County SchoolsThe US Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced the culmination of a multi-year investigation into E-rate fraud. Peretz Klein, Ben Klein, Moshe Schwartz, Simon Goldbrener, Sholem Steinberg, Aron Melber, and Susan Klein had each pled guilty in White Plains federal court to one count of conspiring against the United States and were sentenced in proceedings held between June 2022 and February 28, 2023. Defendants were sentenced to a combined 147 months in jail and were ordered to pay $2.6 million in restitution. FCC-OIG, FBI, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation and USAO SDNY’s White Plains Division prosecuted the defendants.

February 21, 2023 - Michigan Dept of AG StatementLongtime Lifeline Agent Sentenced After Conviction for Conducting a Criminal Enterprise and Identity Theft in MichiganOn February 17, 2023, Dewan Williams was sentenced to 2 to 20 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to charges of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise and Identity Theft. Williams, a longtime sales agent for multiple Lifeline providers, used stolen personal information to fraudulently enroll unsuspecting victims into the Lifeline program and obtain free cellphones provisioned with Lifeline service. Williams later sold the illegally obtained phones for personal profit. Investigators recovered 150 new and pre-packaged Safelink cell phones as well as the stolen personal information of approximately 7,000 identity theft victims from his home. FCC-OIG assisted the investigation conducted by the Michigan Department of Attorney General, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, OIG and Michigan State Police.

August 2, 2022 – FCC OIG Statement
Husband and wife sentenced for E-Rate fraud in Rockland County, NYFCC OIG announces the first two, of several sentences, expected in the long-running investigation of fraud in the FCC’s E-rate program involving Yeshiva schools in Rockland County, New York. Last month, Peretz Klein of Spring Valley, NY, was sentenced to four years in federal prison and ordered to repay $1.14 million for stealing millions of dollars from the E-rate program. Klein’s wife Susan was sentenced to time served and one year of supervised release. Five additional individuals have entered into plea agreements related to the investigation and are expected to be sentenced in October. In the sentencing document for Klein, prosecutors said the seven people convicted "figured out how to game the program, submitting fraudulent invoices in order to get paid for equipment they did not provide, among many other deceptions."

April 4, 2022 - DOJ StatementTracFone Wireless to Pay $13.4 Million to Settle False Claims Relating to FCC’s Lifeline ProgramTracFone Wireless Inc. (TracFone) agreed to pay $13.4 million as part of a civil settlement to resolve allegations that TracFone violated the False Claims Act by signing up more than 175,000 ineligible customers in connection with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Lifeline Program (Lifeline). Lifeline provides nearly $2 billion each year to assist low-income consumers with their telecommunications needs. The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort among the FCC Office of Inspector General, FCC Office of General Counsel and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section.

February 11, 2022 - DOJ StatementKentucky Businessman Pleads Guilty to Decade-Long Scheme to Defraud $6.9 million from E-RateCharles A. "Chuck" Jones, a Kentucky businessman, pleaded guilty to a decade-long scheme and conspiracy to defraud the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-Rate Program of approximately $6.9 million dollars.  For approximately 10 years, Jones paid kickbacks to an E-Rate consultant working with the Missouri and Tennessee schools involved in this case. Jones and his co-conspirators used the victim schools as vehicles to make false statements and submit fabricated documents to the E-Rate Program to fraudulently obtain money for Jones. The FCC Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated this case.

April 7, 2021 - FCC, OIG StatementOn April 7th, 2021 John Comito, CEO of AutoExec Inc., was sentenced in a case investigated by FCC Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Comito was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to 5 years of probation for submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement from the E-rate fund to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), as well as to multiple Catholic and charter schools for equipment and services that were not provided to the schools. As part of his sentence, the Court ordered Mr. Comito to pay $399,719.56 in restitution to the E-rate program and $105,683.10 to the victim schools for a total of $505,402.66. As part of his plea agreement Mr. Comito executed with the government, he agreed to pay $133,239.85 in forfeiture which represented the money Mr. Comito personally received in ill-gotten gains from being a one-third owner of AutoExec Inc. The forfeiture amount was paid by Mr. Comito directly to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Additionally, the court ordered Mr. Comito to pay a $250,000 fine and noted that the reason for the substantial fine in this case was to deter others from committing similar acts of fraud on the E-rate program.

November 3, 2020 - DOJ StatementIllinois-Based Charter School Management Company To Pay $4.5 Million To Settle Claims Relating To E-Rate ContractsConcept Schools, NFP, has agreed to pay $4.5 million as part of a civil settlement to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by engaging in non-competitive bidding practices in connection with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-Rate Program. The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the FCC Office of Inspector General, the Department of Justice Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General.

September 14, 2020 - DOJ StatementChief Executive Officer of Staten Island Technology Company Pleads Guilty To Wire FraudJohn Comito, Chief Executive Officer of Staten Island Technology pleads guilty to stealing and defrauding hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC), E-rate program earmarked for computer equipment and services at economically disadvantaged Catholic schools in New York City. The matter was investigated by the FCC Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, New York Division and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York.

February 21, 2020 - DOJ StatementKentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Concealing Decade-Long E-Rate Wire Fraud SchemeMark J. Whitaker pleaded guilty to misprision of wire fraud. From 2004 until August 13, 2014, Whitaker actively concealed a scheme directed by his co-defendant, Charles "Chuck" Jones, to defraud the federal E-Rate Program. According to the Superseding Indictment, the E-Rate Program allegedly paid Jones and his companies approximately $6.9 million as a result of the fraud. Wire fraud and conspiracy charges against Chuck Jones are still pending. The matter was investigated by the FCC Office of Inspector General and the FBI and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.

February 12, 2020 - DOJ StatementSeven Defendants Plead Guilty to Defrauding Millions of Dollars from E-Rate Program that Provided Technology Funding for Rockland County SchoolsDefendants charged with defrauding the E-rate program all pled guilty to conspiring against the United States and admitted their roles in a massive scheme that stole millions of dollars from the program. The matter was investigated by the FCC Office of Inspector General, FBI and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

January 30, 2020 - DOJ StatementDallas Charter School CEO Convicted in Kickback Scheme Sentenced to 7+ YearsDallas charter school Nova Academy CEO Donna H. Woods, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for her role in an E-rate corruption scandal. Her co-conspirator, Donatus Anyanwu, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in July and sentenced to 30 months in prison. The pair were also declared to be jointly and severally liable for restitution to the FCC. The matter was investigated by the FCC Office of Inspector General and FBI Dallas Field Office and was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.



December 16, 2019 - DOJ Press ReleaseCEO John Comito of Staten Island-based AutoExec Computer Systems, Inc. was charged in connection with mail and wire fraud of approximately $426,000 in federal E-rate program fundsFrom 2013 to 2017, 26 elementary, middle and high schools located in the Diocese of Brooklyn contracted with AutoExec to provide telecommunications equipment and services. At least eight schools received no equipment or services, and the remaining schools received partial, substandard or non-approved equipment and services. In total, Comito overbilled the E-rate program, and defrauded the program and schools, in the amount of approximately $426,000. If convicted, Comito faces a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment on each count of mail fraud and wire fraud. The FCC's Office of Inspector General investigated this matter, with other law enforcement partners. "An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud related to the E-rate Program," stated FCC Inspector General Hunt.

November 7, 2019 - DOJ StatementTwo plead guilty to wrongdoing in connection to federal E-rate program funds totaling over $3.9 millionA former executive director of the South Central Ohio Computer Association (SCOCA) pleaded guilty to submitting false claims to the federal government and a former information technologies director of the Diocese of Columbus Office of Catholic Schools pleaded guilty to making false statements. The former director of SCOCA unlawfully delayed and/or withheld E-rate reimbursements to schools, but continued to invoice the E-rate program as if all program rules and regulations had been followed. Ultimately, SCOCA failed to reimburse schools for a year of E-rate reimbursements and instead used these funds for SCOCA operating costs. The missing reimbursements to schools and other debts incurred by SCOCA, which SCOCA-member schools were required to cover, totaled over $3.2 million. The former IT director of the Diocese of Columbus Office of Catholic Schools negotiated a five-year contract with SCOCA for internet services, which was E-rate eligible, but knowingly included inflated charges and funding for ineligible E-rate expenses in the contract. The IT director falsely certified in documents submitted to USAC that all ineligible services had been disclosed. Over the course of the five-year contract, more than $700,000 was for undisclosed purposes. The FCC's Office of Inspector General investigated this matter in conjunction with the FBI, the Ohio Auditor of State and the United States Department of Education Office of Inspector General. The matter was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

October, 7 2019 - DOJ Statements & Indictment
Dallas Charter School CEO involved in Contractor Kickback Scheme Found GuiltyAfter an investigation by the FCC Office of Inspector General, a Dallas charter school CEO involved in the E-rate program was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and three individual counts of wire fraud announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. The original indictment was unsealed on 01/04/2018, after the arrest and arraignment of defendants.

DOJ Statement - Verdict, dated 10/07/2019
	DOJ Statement - Indictment, dated 01/25/2018
	Unsealed Indictment, dated 12/05/2017



February 6, 2019 - DOJ StatementIndictment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud to defraud the E-rate ProgramTwo co-conspirators indicted on conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud charges to defraud the E-rate Program, based on an investigation by the FCC Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The DoJ indictment alleges the co-conspirators utilized an unindicted co-conspirator's position with schools in Tennessee and Missouri to violate E-rate rules, including making false representation that schools had been invoiced the proper co-pay amounts. These false representations were made to obtain funds from the program.

September 6, 2018 - DOJ StatementFlorida-Based Broadcasting Company Ordered to Pay $910,700 to Federal Communications Commission for False Claims Act (FCA) violationThe FCC Office of Inspector General presented the case to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for pursuit under the FCA. The case resulted in a settlement against Newman Broadcasting for claiming a 35% bidding credit for FM radio frequencies in Florida for which the company was not entitled.

August 29, 2018 - DOJ StatementVendors, Consultants, And School Administrator Charged In Wide-Ranging Scheme To Defraud Federal "E Rate" Subsidy Program of $14 millionAfter referral from the FCC Office of Inspector General and an extensive investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced the indictment and arrests of seven defendants -- two E-rate consultants, four E-rate service providers and one private school official -- on wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges in connection with schemes that, from 2009 through 2016, defrauded the E-rate program of over $14 million.

December 22, 2016 - StatementTotal Call Mobile Agrees to Pay $30 Million and A Permanent Ban For Defrauding Government Program Offering Discounted Mobile Phone Services To Low-Income Consumers

DOJ Complaint-in-Intervention
	DOJ Settlement Agreement

June 12, 2014 - DOJ StatementIcon Telecom and its Owner Plead Guilty and Agree to Forfeit More Than $27 Million in Connection with Federal Wireless Telephone Subsidy Program

June 4, 2014 - DOJ StatementICON Telecom, Its Owner, and a Former Associate Charged in $25 Million Fraud in Federal Wireless Telephone Subsidy Program

April 10, 2014 - DOJ StatementThree Men Charged with Allegedly Defrauding the FCC of Approximately $32 Million

April 9, 2014 - IndictmentUSF Low Income Program Indictment of Thomas E. Biddix, Kevin Brian Cox, and Leonard I. Solt

November 7, 2013 - DOJ StatementAT&T Agrees to Settle Allegations Involving IP Relay Services Provided To Hearing- And Speech-Impaired Persons

August 6, 2013 - DOJ StatementTexas Businessman Agrees to Settle False Claims Allegations Involving the E-Rate Program

March 22, 2012 - DOJ StatementUnited States Files Lawsuit Against AT&T in Telecommunications Relay Services Fraud Case

February 9, 2012 - DOJ StatementFormer Owner of Illinois Technology Company Sentenced to Serve 30 Months in Prison for Role in Multi-State Scheme to Defraud Federal E-Rate Program

January 12, 2012 - DOJ StatementMontgomery Man Sentenced To 51 Months In Prison For Stealing $892,000 From Schools In 13 States

December 1, 2011 - DOJ StatementMaryland-Based Viable Communications, Its Owner and a Former Executive Sentenced for Roles in $20 Million Scheme to Defraud the FCC's TRS/VRS Program

September 29, 2011 - DOJ StatementMontgomery Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing $892,000 From Schools In 13 States

July 18, 2011 - DOJ StatementMichigan Businessman Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Defrauding the Federal E-Rate Program

June 2, 2011 - DOJ StatementFormer Owner of Illinois Technology Companies Pleads Guilty in Multi-State Scheme to Defraud the Federal E-Rate Program

June 1, 2011 - AnnouncementStrusa Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the Interstate TRS Fund

May 9, 2011 - DOJ StatementFormer Superintendent Pleads Guilty To Federal Program Theft

03/28, 2011 - DOJ StatementFormer Owner of Illinois Technology Company Pleads Guilty in Multi-State Scheme to Defraud the Federal E-Rate Program

March 3, 2011 - DOJ StatementOwner of Illinois Technology Company Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Defraud the Federal E-Rate Program

February 22, 2011 - DOJ StatementAlaska-Based Company Pays U.S. More Than $1.5 Million to Settle False Claims Allegations

January 26, 2011 - DOJ StatementTwo Individuals Plead Guilty to Defrauding FCC Video Relay Service Program

January 26, 2011 - DOJ StatementMichigan Businessman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the Federal E-Rate Program

January 10, 2011 - FCC Press ReleaseDavid Hunt Named Inspector General

January 6, 2011 - DOJ StatementIndividual Pleads Guilty to Defrauding FCC Video Relay Services Program



Advisories and Outreach

September 28, 2023 - Release and AdvisoryFCC OIG announces the voluntary repayment of $49.4 million of improperly claimed Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) subsidies after OIG sent the provider a warning letter and issues an advisory notifying other ACP providers of its concern that dozens of other providers are likely not complying with FCC usage and related de-enrollment rules.

OIG Immediate Release Regarding repayment of ACP subsidies and issuance of advisory notifying other ACP providers
	OIG Advisory Regarding ACP Provider Noncompliance with ACP Program Usage & De-Enrollment Rules

September 8, 2022 - AdvisoryAdvisory Regarding Fraud in Provider Enrollments of Multiple ACP Households Based on the Same Child/DependentOIG issues this advisory letter to alert consumers and providers to an improper and fraudulent enrollment practice by some providers of Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) services. Providers and their agents have enrolled many households into the ACP based on the eligibility of a single Benefit Qualifying Person (BQP) child or dependent. A single BQP cannot be used to qualify multiple households for ACP support simultaneously.

March 11, 2022 - Advisory & ReleaseOIG issues an Immediate Release and Advisory alerting Lifeline, Emergency Broadband Benefit, and Affordable Connectivity Program providers and consumers to improper and abusive enrollment practices that are part of some providers’ online enrollment processes.

FCC Immediate Release Regarding Provider Efforts to Deceive Lifeline Consumers During the Online Enrollment Process
	OIG Advisory Notice Regarding Provider Efforts to Deceive Lifeline Consumers to Enroll in Unwanted Government-Subsidized ACP Services

November 22, 2021 - Advisory & ReleaseOIG issues this advisory regarding Fraudulent Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Enrollments Based On USDA National School Lunch Program Community Eligibility Provision.

FCC Immediate Release Regarding Fraudulent EBB Program Enrollments Advisory
	OIG Advisory Notice Regarding Fraudulent EBB Program Enrollments by Providers’ Sales Agents

August 10, 2020 - OutreachOIG Letter to Public Utility Commissions Regarding Complaints and Other Information Related to the Lifeline ProgramOn August 10, 2020, OIG sent letters to the leadership of state and territorial public utility commissions seeking to strengthen its ongoing relationships with these important partners. Frequently the first to receive complaints and concerns regarding the Lifeline program (and other FCC-administered programs) from beneficiaries and the public, OIG encourages public utility commissions to continue sharing information critical to fulfilling our mandate to detect and combat fraud, waste and abuse in FCC programs.

January 28, 2020 - AdvisoryAdvisory Notice Regarding Lifeline Usage ComplianceFCC, OIG Press ReleaseOIG issues this advisory letter to alert Lifeline carriers, consumers and the public to the potential for widespread carrier non-compliance with the Lifeline usage rule.

April, 16, 2019 - AdvisoryInspector General Issues Advisory Regarding Fraud in Lifeline ProgramOIG issues this advisory letter to alert Lifeline carriers, carrier agents, consumers, and the public regarding pervasive, fraudulent practices that violate program rules and divert monies from the intended beneficiaries of the program.

        
        
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