PETALUMA, Calif., June 1 LAWFUEL – Press Release Service — The Justice Department, acting on behalf of the Small Business Administration, has responded to a suit filed in Federal court under the Freedom of Information Act by the American Small Business League. The government is refusing to release the name of a contractor that was found to be intentionally misrepresenting itself as a small business in order to illegally receive Federal small business
contracts. United States Attorney Kevin V. Ryan is claiming exemptions
under the Freedom of Information Act that would allow the government to
withhold the name of the firm because of an ongoing criminal investigation.
The SBA’s Office of Inspector General conducted an investigation into
the matter last year. In June 2005, the Inspector General recommended to
SBA Administrator Hector Barreto that the firm in question be debarred from doing business with the Federal government. Barreto will leave office in
June without taking any punitive action against the firm.
Under Federal law, misrepresenting a firm’s status as a small business
in order to receive Federal small business contracts is punishable by up to
ten years in prison, a $500,000 fine per occurrence, and permanent
debarment from doing business with the government.
The ASBL believes the company may have illegally received millions of
dollars in Federal small business contracts. President Lloyd Chapman
stated, “I find it very difficult to believe that the investigation is
ongoing, and I don’t think the government has any plans to prosecute the
firm.”
Chapman went on to say, “We don’t know who the contractor is, but if
they are guilty of misrepresenting their company, they should be debarred
and prosecuted according to the law.”
About the ASBL
The American Small Business League was formed to promote and advocate
policies that provide the greatest opportunity for small businesses – the
98 percent of U.S. companies with less than 100 employees. The ASBL is
founded on the principle that small businesses, the backbone of a vital
American economy, should receive the fair treatment promised by the Small
Business Act of 1953. Representing small businesses in all fields and
industries throughout the United States, the ASBL monitors existing
policies and proposed policy changes by the Small Business Administration
and other federal agencies that affect its members.
Contact:
Lloyd Chapman
lchapman@asbl.com
707-789-9575
