Richard I. Keefe, Federal False Statements, Illinois 2008

Richard I. Keefe, a commercial print broker from Rock Falls, Illinois, pleaded guilty to making false statements in a bid submitted to the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), the GPO announced.

The GPO issued the bid on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service of the Department of the Treasury in or around January 2008. Keefe submitted the bid in the name of a company that had not authorized him to do so and certified that the bid was not made with an understanding that a brokerage fee would be paid, when in fact it was. This is a serious breach of trust and a threat to the integrity of the GPO's procurement process.

The GPO procures most printing services from outside vendors, and its annual print solicitations are approximately $1 billion. By statute, the GPO performs, with few exceptions, all printing for the federal government.

Keefe is charged with one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for individuals. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.

This case is the first to arise in an ongoing investigation of bids to the GPO and is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section and by the GPO’s Office of Inspector General. Anyone with information concerning price fixing or other anticompetitive conduct regarding GPO print solicitations should contact the National Criminal Enforcement Section at 202-307-5784 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm or contact the GPO’s Office of Inspector General at 1-800-743-7574.

Keefe pleaded guilty on November 4, 2010 in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The outcome of this case serves as a reminder that fraud and false statements will not be tolerated in the federal government's procurement process.

The GPO is committed to ensuring the integrity of its procurement process and will continue to investigate and prosecute any individuals or companies that engage in fraudulent activities.

In this case, Keefe submitted a bid to the GPO in the name of a company that had not authorized him to do so, and certified that the bid was not made with an understanding that a brokerage fee would be paid, when in fact it was. This is a serious breach of trust and a threat to the integrity of the GPO's procurement process.

The GPO's annual print solicitations are approximately $1 billion, and by statute, the GPO performs, with few exceptions, all printing for the federal government.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/illinois-commercial-print-broker-pleads-guilty-making-false-statement-government-printing