Neeraj Jindal, Wage Fixing and Obstruction, Texas 2023
A federal grand jury in Sherman, Texas, returned a superseding indictment charging Neeraj Jindal, the former owner of a Texas-based therapist staffing company, and John Rodgers, a physical therapist and the clinical director of Jindal’s company, with engaging in wage fixing and obstructing a federal investigation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
The superseding indictment charges Jindal and Rodgers with conspiring to fix prices, in violation of the Sherman Act, and with conspiring to obstruct a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation. Both defendants are also charged with obstruction of an FTC investigation.
According to the four-count superseding indictment, in 2017, Jindal, Rodgers, and their co-conspirators agreed to pay lower rates to certain physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in North Texas. Their company, in turn, paid the agreed lower rates for several months after entering into the agreement.
Jindal and Rodgers also conspired to obstruct an FTC investigation and to obstruct proceedings occurring before the FTC. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Jindal and Rodgers made false and misleading statements and withheld and concealed information during the FTC’s investigation to determine whether their company or other therapist staffing companies violated the Federal Trade Commission Act.
The superseding indictment follows an indictment returned against Jindal in December 2020 for violating the Sherman Act and obstructing an FTC investigation.
“Wage-fixing agreements are, at their core, an attempt to artificially rig the labor market to depress wages and deprive workers of competitive salaries and benefits,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “The present charges demonstrate that the Department of Justice and its partner agencies will not stand by and allow the exploitation of American workers and the manipulation of the marketplace.”
A violation of the Sherman Act carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by victims if either amount is greater than $1 million. The charged conspiracy to commit obstruction and obstruction offenses carry statutory maximum penalties of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Defendant Information:
Defendant/Respondent: Neeraj Jindal
Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiring to fix prices, in violation of the Sherman Act, and conspiring to obstruct a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation, obstruction of an FTC investigation
City and State: Sherman, Texas
Exact Date: 2023 (no specific date given)
Sentence or Outcome: Currently pending
Dollar Amounts: $1 million fine, $250,000 fine
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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