A former employee of Los Alamos National Laboratory has agreed to pay $67,500 to settle allegations related to the False Claims Act. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that William Monford Wood was accused of submitting false claims for payment for time allegedly worked and expenses incurred during business trips.
The allegations against Wood include 23 false claims made between July 12, 2016, and December 20, 2017. These claims pertain to trips taken to locations in California such as Oakland, Livermore, and Santa Barbara. The United States contends these claims were for time not actually worked and expenses without a legitimate business purpose from June 19, 2016, to December 9, 2017.
As part of the settlement agreement, Wood will pay $67,500, with $38,549.83 designated as restitution. Additionally, Wood has agreed never to seek employment with or work for the federal government or its contractors or subcontractors in any capacity funded by or through the federal government. He also agreed never to seek a federal government security clearance.
Assistant United States Attorney Cassandra C. Currie and Auditor Phillip Stella led the government's investigation into these allegations.
It is important to note that the resolved claims are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.