Couple Accused Of Scamming NASA
Posted on: Thursday, 26 February 2009, 10:05 CST
On Wednesday, federal authorities raided the office of a University of Florida professor who, along with his wife, is suspected of defrauding NASA.
University spokesman Steve Orlando said the FBI searched the school's Innovative Nuclear Space Power and Propulsion Institute, founded by Samim Anghaie, and his office on campus. Anghaie is a professor of radiological engineering.
Jeff Westcott, FBI spokesman, confirmed the searches on campus, referring all questions to the U.S. attorney's office.
Investigators from the FBI and NASA said that since 1999, the government has awarded 13 contracts to the couple's company, New Era Technology Inc. (NETECH), and deposited $3.4 million into the company's corporate account, according to an affidavit filed February 19. Investigators allege the couple diverted a big sum of the money from the corporate account into personal accounts to buy cars and property.
NETECH was established in 1988 as a research and development firm to perform "high-tech, cutting edge research," according to the company's Web site. It says is has "a highly skilled staff of research scientists, engineers, and physicists." It also lists NASA, the Department of Defense and Department of Energy among its employers.
Sousan, Anghaie's wife, is president of NETECH, which is listed under the couple's residential address in Gainesville, according to the court documents.
Hamid Anghaie, the couple's 28 year old son who lives in Tampa, has been director and vice president of the company since 2001. Before Hamid had taken over, his father had the position, according to court documents.
Ali Anghaie, the 31 year old son of the accused couple, works for an aerospace firm, Pratt & Whitney, also listed among NETECH's employers.
The calls made to Samim and Sousan Anghaie's home were not immediately returned Wednesday.
The Anghaies took advantage of two federal grant programs set up to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector and strengthen the role of small business, authorities said.
They "submitted multiple fraudulent certified contract proposals to NASA, in order to receive the maximum funding for proposed research contracts," under the name NETECH, according to court documents.
The couple allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices to reimburse payments to "alleged employees," which resulted in the government overpaying the company, the documents say.
According to the documents, the money was allegedly diverted to personal accounts through the intentional overpayment of employees, including Samim Anghaie, or the payments made to "illegitimate employees", including the two sons.
Orlando said that Samim Anghaie, a professor at the University of Florida for 30 years, has been placed on administrative leave with pay.
---
On the Net:
Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
Related Articles
- Academy Award(R) Winning Composer A.R. Rahman to Score 'Couples Retreat' for Universal Pictures
- DocuSender Provides Cost-Effective Document Distribution for Increased Office Productivity
- Harvard University Opens Office in Shanghai
- New NASA Office Will Study Strange Cosmic Phenomena
- NASA's Chandra Finds Black Holes Are 'Green'
- Baby's Death Brings Investigation; Midwife May Have Practiced Medicine Without a License, Court Documents Say
- California State University Chancellor's Office Goes Virtual With Softricity SoftGrid
- Documents Possible Away From Office Laptop
- Panel Recommends Reducing NASA Role in Space Launches
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds