Reports: Investigations

WASHINGTON – Nicholas Moore, 24, of Springfield, Tennessee, pleaded guilty this morning in U.S. District Court in connection with hacking the electronic filing system of the U.S. Supreme Court at least 25 times and additionally hacking accounts at AmeriCorps and the Veterans Administration Health System, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

AmeriCorps OIG investigated allegations that individuals posing as AmeriCorps employees on social media sites offered grant funds in exchange for a fee, such as gift cards or cell phones, as part of a scheme known as "advance fee fraud." The evidence collected through the investigation supports the finding that the fraud suspects executed the schemes by utilizing fake social media profiles, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone numbers, fake email addresses, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigated allegations that Corp Regional de Guayama de Servicios a la Comunidad (CRGSC), located in Cayey, PR, drew down grant funds through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Payment Management System (HHS-PMS) for its Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) without corresponding supporting documentation as required by 2 CFR 200.430.

United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $629,043 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to contribute the required percentage of resources in exchange for AmeriCorps funds the county received.

AmeriCorps OIG initiated this investigation after receiving a referral from OIG’s Office of Audits. The referral alleged that, in 2019, Delaware’s Governor's Commission on Community & Volunteer Service, an AmeriCorps State and National Program grantee also known as Volunteer Delaware, was not providing adequate oversight of its subrecipient, Delaware’s Division of Parks and Recreation (DPR).

A former AmeriCorps grantee staff member (“Complainant”) alleged that management at the grantee terminated the Complainant’s employment after the Complainant made a protected disclosure related to the Complainant’s concerns about the grantee’s financial management and stewardship. AmeriCorps OIG concluded that the evidence did not support the allegations of whistleblower retaliation. The grantee terminated the Complainant based on performance issues that predated any protected disclosure.

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General investigated potential displacement of paid staff at Hawaii Community Assets (HCA), undisclosed dual employment by a program official at HCA and Aloha United Way (AUW), and improper charging of time by two Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program officials at AUW.

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General investigated allegations that Movement of Youth, located in Durham, NC, improperly paid living allowances to AmeriCorps members before they were enrolled into the My AmeriCorps Portal and the AmeriCorps grants management system (eGrants).

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General investigated alleged whistleblower retaliation at an AmeriCorps grantee. Following receipt of AmeriCorps OIG's report summarizing the investigation, AmeriCorps did not substantiate the complaint or order relief.