A northern Virginia businessman who was awarded $38 million in federal contracts to provide high-quality masks during the coronavirus pandemic that he never possessed pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud and making false statements.
Veteran pleads guilty after FEMA, VA contracts for masks go unfilled The Associated Press (Creatas/iStock) ALEXANDRIA, Va. A northern Virginia businessman who was awarded $38 million in federal contracts to provide high-quality masks during the coronavirus pandemic that he never possessed pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud and making false statements. Robert Stewart, 35, of Arlington, was owner of a company called Federal Government Experts that won contracts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs after he told the agencies he had N95 masks and other personal protective equipment available. At a plea hearing in federal court in Alexandria, Stewart admitted he never provided any equipment.
Virginia businessman pleads guilty to PPE fraud
By: The Associated Press
and last updated 2021-02-04 07:20:50-05
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A northern Virginia businessman who was awarded $38 million in federal contracts to provide high-quality masks during the coronavirus pandemic that he never possessed pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud and making false statements.
Robert Stewart, 35, of Arlington, was owner of a company called Federal Government Experts that won contracts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs after he told the agencies he had N95 masks and other personal protective equipment available.
At a plea hearing in federal court in Alexandria, Stewart admitted he never provided any equipment.
Man pleads guilty to fraud after $38 million in federal contracts for masks go unfilled Share Updated: 4:04 PM EST Feb 4, 2021 The Associated Press Share Updated: 4:04 PM EST Feb 4, 2021
Hide Transcript Share Updated: 4:04 PM EST Feb 4, 2021 The Associated Press A northern Virginia businessman who was awarded $38 million in federal contracts to provide high-quality masks during the coronavirus pandemic that he never possessed pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud and making false statements.Robert Stewart, 35, of Arlington, was owner of a company called Federal Government Experts that won contracts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs after he told the agencies he had N95 masks and other personal protective equipment available.At a plea hearing in federal court in Alexandria, Stewart admitted he never provided any equipment.Prosecutors say the government lost no money on the
UpdatedThu, Feb 4, 2021 at 3:59 pm ET
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An Arlington businessman pleaded guilty in fraudulent schemes involving contracts to supply PPE to federal agencies, a PPP loan, and VA benefits. (Emily Leayman/Patch)
ALEXANDRIA, VA An Arlington-based CEO pleaded guilty Wednesday in Alexandria federal court in a personal protective equipment scheme that defrauded federal agencies.
According to court documents, Robert S. Stewart, Jr., 35, was the owner and president of Arlington-based Federal Government Experts and was accused of making false statements to multiple federal agencies to fraudulently obtain multimillion-dollar government contracts, COVID-19 emergency relief loans, and undeserved Veterans Affairs (VA) military service benefits. He pleaded guilty to making false statements, wire fraud, and theft of government funds.