OKLAHOMA CITY – Omega Technology Center and its owners Todd and Kristie Greenway agreed to settle federal allegations that they submitted false claims involving a program of the Federal Communications Commission.
Omega is a for-profit business in Duncan that provides information technology support to schools in Oklahoma.
The Universal Service Administrative Company is a not-for-profit entity that administers an FCC program called E-Rate.
The E-Rate program is designed to improve the telecommunication capabilities of schools and libraries, particularly those in low-income areas. It does so by subsidizing the cost of new telecommunication equipment and services, and internal connections, to bring connectivity within the school or library (such as cabling, routers, and servers), as well as maintenance services.
The U.S. alleged that Omega and the Greenways submitted invoices for payment to USAC under the E-Rate program for goods and services that were never provided to the Fort Towson school district in Choctaw County for the 2010 and 2012 E-Rate years.
To resolve the claims, Omega and the Greenways agreed to pay $54,000 to the federal government and to not participate in any FCC program administered by the USAC for at least three years.
In reaching the settlement, Omega and the Greenways did not admit liability, and the government did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims. The agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience and uncertainty involved in litigating the case, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester said.