The Justice Department also reported successes in its “aggressive pursuit of financial fraud, including fraud in the housing and mortgage industries that came to light in the wake of the financial crisis.”
With respect to procurement fraud, “the department recovered $427 million in false claims for goods and services purchased by the government.” Noteworthy is its recovery from a software manufacturer that allegedly overcharged the government “by failing to disclose substantially lower prices offered to its commercial customers.”
Fiscal 2012 was also a very good year for whistleblowers. Of the $4.9 billion in recoveries this year, “a record $3.3 billion was recovered in whistleblower suits,” and the department reported “$439 million in [whistleblower] awards in fiscal year 2012.”
In appreciation of whistleblowers’ assistance, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General noted, “[t]he whistleblowers who bring wrongdoing to the government’s attention are instrumental in preserving the integrity of government programs and protecting taxpayers from the costs of fraud. We are extremely grateful for the sacrifices they make to do the right thing.”