Press Release

Nikhil Parekh, 37, of Randallstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the theft and sale of hundreds of government-issued smartphones, laptop computers, and other IT devices that had been slated for destruction.

The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Chief J. Thomas Manger of the U.S. Capitol Police, and USAID Special Agent in Charge Sean Bottary of the USAID Office of Inspector General.

The week of January 20th, Paul Martin, Inspector General (IG) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), led an Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG) delegation to Israel. The purpose of the trip was to further USAID OIG’s independent oversight of USAID-funded humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’ terrorist attacks in Israel, the United States has provided over $1.2 billion in humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people with at least $641 million of this aid programmed by USAID.

WASHINGTON – Chemonics International, Inc. (Chemonics), a private international development firm based in Washington, DC, has agreed to pay $3,119,582 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting fraudulent claims for payment to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).  Chemonics disclosed the fraudulent billing to the United States in 2020.

WASHINGTON – Mahmoud Al Hafyan, 53, a Syrian national, has been charged in a 12-count indictment, unsealed today in U.S. District Court, alleging major fraud against the United States for illegally diverting more than $9 million in U.S.-funded humanitarian aid intended for Syrian civilians to armed combatant groups, including the Al-Nusrah Front (ANF), which is a designated foreign terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qaida in Iraq.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jeanty Cherilus (54, Lakeland) with five counts of wire fraud. Cherilus faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Cherilus that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $370,000, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Interactive Research and Development South Africa NPC (IRD SA) has agreed to pay $671,914 to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) false claims for payment related to employees of IRD SA who were allegedly not working.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Today, the Inspectors General from the Department of Defense (DoD), the U.S. Department of State (State), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released the third quarterly report to the United States Congress on Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR). 

The Inspectors General from the Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have launched coordinated, independent oversight projects related to their agencies’ respective roles in the ongoing delivery and distribution of U.S. humanitarian assistance to Gaza through the maritime corridor. The DoD and USAID Offices of Inspector General (OIG) oversight initiatives are part of a collaborative effort to review key aspects of DoD’s and USAID’s shared humanitarian mission in providing U.S. assistance to Gaza.

Read the DOJ press release here: U.S. Citizen With Diplomatic Status Facing Federal Charges For Alleged Sexual Abuse Of Two Minors In Burkina Faso

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Carleena Graham Sentenced For Defrauding Federal Program Funding Recipient