Family Farming Partnership to Pay $3.1 Million to Resolve False Claims Allegations

PHOENIX GPA Management Group (GPA), an Arizona general partnership, and its partners Gerald P. Andersen; Patricia R. Andersen; Mark J. Andersen; Julie Andersen; Brent T. Andersen; Alysia Andersen; Scott G. Andersen; Tiffany Andersen; Robin Andersen Lee; MDR Farm Management, LLP; RD&P Agriculture, LLP; RT Agriculture, LLP; SS Agriculture, LLP; and JAT Farming, LLP; have agreed to pay the federal government $3,126,484 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting false statements to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency (FSA) in connection with requests for federal farming benefits. Were pleased with the resolution of this case, and that the government will be able to reclaim millions in lost Federal farming benefits, said Dennis K. Burke, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. To protect the American taxpayer, we are scrutinizing every Federal program for fraud --- whether it is in the financial area, education, health care or in this case, farming. The settlement agreement resolves allegations that GPA and its partners submitted to FSA false statements and claims for Direct Payments and Counter-Cyclical Payments from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) of FSA by falsely representing that each of the partners was a separate person and was actively engaged in farming as defined by applicable federal regulations. The USDA, Office of Inspector General (OIG) and FSA share responsibility for protecting the integrity of USDA farm programs by pursuing payment limitation abuses. The agencies work together to ensure that farm program benefits are provided only to eligible producers who are actively engaged in farming. This civil settlement is significant because it puts individuals on notice that if they submit false information to USDA for farm programs, they will face stiff penalties. False claims, such as those allegedly submitted by GPA Management, contribute to abuses and loss of taxpayer funding. OIG will continue to work with USDA agencies and the United States Attorneys Office to prevent and pursue fraud, and misuse of taxpayers dollars, said Lori Chan, Special Agent in Charge for the Western Region of the USDA, OIG.