VA Doctor Pays $20,000 for Misusing His Government Credit Card, Reports U.S. Attorney

BOSTON, April 4, 2003 /PRNewswire/ -- A VA Hospital doctor has paid the United States $20,000 for misuse of his government issued credit card.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan announced that his office has settled civil claims against HIROSHI MASHIMO, M.D., Chief of Gastroentorology for the Boston VA Healthcare System, under the False Claims Act.  DR. MASHIMO, who lives in Lincoln, Massachusetts, paid $20,000 to resolve the claims.

Based on its investigation, the United States alleged that DR. MASHIMO violated the False Claims Act by using his government issued credit card to make a series of unreimbursible personal purchases in the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 totaling approximately $10,000.  The United States contends that in making these purchases, DR. MASHIMO violated the False Claim Act.

The False Claims Act provides the United States with the ability to recover, among other things, up to three times the damages it suffered.  The $20,000 paid by DR. MASHIMO represents full recovery of the amount he improperly received plus a component of multiple damages under the False Claims Act.

"This settlement sends a message to all government employees who are tempted to abuse their government credit card privileges, that we will do everything in our power to ensure that government funds are used for their intended public purpose," stated U.S. Attorney Sullivan.

The case was investigated by the Veterans Administration's Office of Inspector General and the General Services Administration's Office of Inspector General.  The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Sternberg in Sullivan's Civil Division.

SOURCE  U.S. Attorney 

CO:  U.S. Attorney

ST:  Massachusetts

SU:  LAW

http://www.prnewswire.com

04/04/2003 12:56 EST