A new FCA whistleblower lawsuit alleges that a security contractor lied to the government about security staff in Iraq.

The whistleblower, a former supervisor with the security contractor SOC LLC, filed a False Claims Act lawsuit against his former employer, alleging that SOC overbilled the State Department for the company’s work at a Baghdad compound.

The whistleblower lawsuit also alleges that the company fired him when he reported the alleged government fraud.

The whistleblower, Kenly N., claimed that the SOC faked promotions to several of its employees on paper so that the state department would pay for employees’ higher salaries. Kenly also alleged that SOC even listed employees who no longer worked with the company.

When he brought these allegations of government fraud to company executives, Kenly says they came up with contrived reasons to let him go.

According to court documents, “SOC berated him without cause, diminished his duties, isolated him, downgraded his performance evaluation without cause and fired him.”

After SOC sent him to work in Iraq in March 2013, Kenly says he soon discovered both financial and personnel discrepancies in company reports. He was sent to serve as deputy project manager for the Baghdad Embassy Security Force.

At the time, SOC had suffered from severe budget cuts. According to Kenly, the company was desperate to find ways to bring in more income from the company’s contract.

In June 2013, Kenly reports noticing a protective service specialist being promoted to shift leader, but continued in only his regular duties. However, the promotion brought the employee about $100 a day more in pay. Soon afterwards, Kenly noticed that SOC paid a medic the correct salary for his title and work, but billed the government as if he were an emergency response team medic, which would raise his salary.

Kenly reported his discoveries of government fraud to a supervisor in Baghdad. However, the supervisor told Kenly that this was a general practice for the Baghdad Embassy Compound, Kenly said.

Kenly then reported his allegations to employees even higher up in the company, until he reached the CEO.

In response for his information, the company executives allegedly gave him a harsher schedule and told him to support SOC’s management. The company downgraded his duties and performance evaluation. Quickly, Kenly realized the executives were trying to find a reason to fire him.

Kenly was eventually fired in December 2013 for disposing of company property without authorization, though he denies these allegations.

Kenly’s FCA whistleblower lawsuit alleges that SOC violated prohibitions against whistleblower retaliation in the False Claims Act and National Defense Authorization Act. Through the whistleblower lawsuit, the plaintiff hopes to receive damages for his emotional distress and loss of reputation, as well as punitive damages against the company.

Whistleblower Lawsuits

Whistleblowers are individuals who report the fraud and illegal activities against the government of their current or former employers. While a person considering becoming a whistleblower may be worried that they will get in trouble for their actions, the whistleblower is typically given a substantial reward – often between 15 and 30 percent of the money recovered in the subsequent whistleblower lawsuit.

Many employees choose to come forward as whistleblowers because they do not feel right about their employer’s actions. A whistleblower lawsuit can be filed while working at the company, but can also be filed after having left the company.

If you believe you have witnessed some kind of fraud by your current or former employer, you may be able to file a whistleblower lawsuit (also known as a qui tam lawsuit) against your employer on behalf of the government.