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Date: 08-02-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 1:17-cr-00215-CRC
Judge: Christopher R. Cooper
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Plaintiff's Attorney: District of Columbia United States Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Washington, DC criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged for fraudulently arranging for a labor union to provide health plan coverage to his girlfriend, who was never a union employee.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Roderick Marvin Bennett, 53, of Camden, the former chief of staff for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) in Washington, D.C., was convicted by a jury of one count of health care fraud. The charges stemmed from Bennett, unbeknownst to LIUNA, placing his girlfriend on the health care plan designed for employees at LIUNA’s headquarters when he knew she was not eligible to participate in the plan.
“The jury’s conviction affirms the Justice Department’s efforts to rid our health care delivery systems of corrupt influences and our pursuit of those who would exploit those systems through fraudulent means,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Department of Labor investigators worked diligently with our prosecutors to ensure that individuals, such as Bennett, who are sworn to safeguard their members’ dues and health and pension plans do not exploit those plans for personal gain.”
LIUNA is a labor organization that represents more than 500,000 laborers in the construction industry in the United States and Canada. For approximately four years, until October 2016, Bennett served as the chief of staff at LIUNA headquarters. The current conviction is in addition to Bennett’s January 2018 guilty plea to three counts of theft from a labor organization stemming from his unauthorized personal purchases – exceeding $150,000 – on his LIUNA-issued American Express card.
Bennett will be sentenced for his convictions at a later date and faces up to five years in prison. Any sentence will be determined after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of Labor investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Vincent Falvo and Jeremy Franker of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section are prosecuting the case.
18:1349; CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BANK AND WIRE FRAUD; Health Care Fraud Conspiracy.
(4s)
18:1347; HEALTH CARE FRAUD; Health Care Fraud.
(5s)
Outcome: 07/30/2021 255 Final Jury Instructions as to RODERICK MARVIN BENNETT (1). Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 07/30/2021. (lccrc3) (Entered: 07/30/2021)
07/30/2021 256 EXHIBIT LIST by USA as to RODERICK MARVIN BENNETT (1) (lsj) (Entered: 07/30/2021)
07/30/2021 257 ATTORNEYS' ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF TRIAL EXHIBITS as to RODERICK MARVIN BENNETT (1) (lsj) (Entered: 07/30/2021)
07/30/2021 Minute Entry for Jury Trial held before Judge Christopher R. Cooper as to RODERICK MARVIN BENNETT (1) on 7/30/2021 as to Counts 4s and 5s. Trial resumed with same jury and alternates. Alternate juror 0456 released without any further consideration in this case. Jury deliberations commenced and concluded. Jury verdict entered as to RODERICK MARVIN BENNETT (1): Not Guilty as to Count 4s and Guilty as to Count 5s. Jury polled with unanimous verdict. Jury discharged without any further consideration in this case. Post-trial motions due within 30 days. Sentencing date forthcoming. Defendant to continue to adhere to the conditions of pre-trial release. Bond Status of Defendant: remains on personal recognizance. Court Reporter: Lisa Moreira. Defense Attorney: Glenn F. Ivey; US Attorneys: Vincent J. Falvo, Jr. and Jeremy Isaac Franker. (lsj) (Entered: 07/30/2021)
07/30/2021 258 VERDICT FORM as to RODERICK MARVIN BENNETT (1) (lsj) (Entered: 07/30/2021)
07/30/2021 259
Signature Page of Foreperson as to RODERICK MARVIN BENNETT (1) on Verdict Form. (Access to the PDF Document is restricted pursuant to the E-Government Act. Access is limited to Counsel of Record and the Court.) (zlsj) (Entered: 07/30/2021)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: