Mayor Mamdani Wins Record $131.5 Million From DoorDash for Delivery Workers

Largest Worker Settlement in NYC History  

  

Largest Settlement for Delivery Workers in American Municipal History  

  

Relief for More Than 260,000 Workers, Stronger Protections Against Unemployment   

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine announced a historic $131.5 million enforcement action against DoorDash for systematic violations of New York City's Delivery Worker Laws.   

  

The settlement will deliver more than $115 million directly to delivery workers and more than $16 million in civil penalties and costs. It will provide relief to more than 260,000 workers who were underpaid by DoorDash, including workers who were not paid at all or were paid late for work they had already performed.   

  

This is the largest worker settlement in New York City history and the largest settlement involving food delivery workers in the United States.  

  

“When a worker earns a wage, they deserve to be paid that wage —  not tomorrow, not after a lawsuit, but on time and in full,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “DoorDash underpaid more than 260,000 workers, and today we are getting that money back. This is what it looks like when City government stands with working people: We find the violations, we enforce the law and we make sure workers get what they’re owed. No corporation is above the law, and this administration will keep fighting until every worker gets the pay and protections they deserve.”  

  

“The size of this settlement shows the damage done to workers by wage theft. But it also shows that enforcement matters. And in this administration, if you steal workers’ wages, it’s not enough to just pay what you should have paid in the first place. After this, DoorDash workers will also have the power to protect their rights going forward through the new compliance monitoring program,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “We know that giving workers power in the workplace to protect themselves is critical and this settlement does just that.”  

  

The action builds on the Mamdani administration’s broader effort to vigorously enforce the laws that protect delivery workers. The administration has already secured more than $104 million in additional tips and $725 million in increased wages for delivery workers since January.  

  

“Today, New York City’s delivery workers are showing that opaque algorithms will not have the final word when it comes to how much they are paid for the hard work they do,” said DCWP Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine. “With this record-breaking settlement and innovative compliance monitoring strategy, the Mamdani administration is demonstrating what it looks like to build an economy that puts working people first.”  

  

The settlement is about more than recovering money that workers are owed. It also puts in place a new monitoring system ensuring DoorDash follows the law going forward – one that gives workers a direct role in identifying violations and gives the City data it needs to act quickly.  

  

DCWP is partnering with Workers Justice Project and the Workers’ Algorithm Observatory to develop software that will allow workers to share their DoorDash trip and earnings data directly with the agency. The new worker-driven compliance system will give DCWP an independent way to identify underpayment and other violations rather than waiting for workers to discover problems after they have occurred.   

  

The effort will be led by DCWP’s new Research and Analytics Division, which uses data science, technology and economic analysis to strengthen the City’s ability to uncover corporate violations and get relief to New Yorkers.   

  

Workers will begin receiving payments this fall. More information is available at nyc.gov/doordash.   

  

Details of the Case  

  

DCWP’s citywide investigation began after dozens of workers reported that DoorDash had failed to pay them or had paid them late for work they had performed. Workers Justice Project helped many of these workers file complaints with DCWP.   

  

The agency then expanded the investigation, using detailed pay data to identify additional violations of the City’s Minimum Pay Rate. DCWP found that DoorDash failed to pay thousands of workers at all for work they had performed and failed to pay thousands more on time. These workers will receive compensation calculated at approximately 200% of the amount they were underpaid.  

  

For example, a worker who was owed $1,000 but received no payment will receive $3,000. A worker who was paid $1,000 later than allowed under the law will receive $2,000. 

  

DCWP also found that DoorDash violated the Minimum Pay Rate. Although DoorDash increased hourly pay to the Minimum Pay Rate in December 2023, the company excluded several categories of trip time and on-call time when calculating compensable time.  

  

DCWP will allocate relief to workers who experienced Minimum Pay Rate violations proportionately based on trip time.  

  

As part of the investigation, DCWP obtained terabytes of data from DoorDash, including billions of rows documenting the company’s treatment of delivery workers. DCWP’s Research and Analytics Division analyzed the data to identify more than 152 million individual payment transactions and 110 million working hours connected to the investigation.  

  

A New Model for Compliance  

  

The settlement does more than compensate for past violations. It establishes a worker-driven compliance monitoring program designed to help the City identify and address violations quickly.  

  

Government enforcement can take time, while workers experience violations in real time. The new program will allow DCWP to monitor DoorDash’s compliance with requirements governing minimum pay, maximum trip distances, trip disclosures, pay transparency and tip transparency.  

 

•   Monthly Data Reports: DoorDash must submit detailed data reports to DCWP every month for three years. The agency will use those reports to audit the company’s compliance with the law and the terms of the settlement.   

  

•   Worker-driven Data Collection: Workers Justice Project and the Workers’ Algorithm Observatory will develop software that allows workers to capture the information DoorDash presents to them about their trips and pay and share that information with City government. Workers Justice Project will conduct outreach to workers about the technology and their rights under City law.   

  

•   The New York Community Trust will issue grants to both organizations to support the collaboration throughout the three-year monitoring period. DoorDash is prohibited from preventing or penalizing workers for using the tool.  

  

•   Software Updates: DoorDash will be required to make software updates to prevent the company from offering a delivery to a worker in New York City unless that worker’s time is being recorded as compensable on-call time or trip time. The updates will also provide workers with additional information about their work time and pay and ensure DoorDash complies with the Minimum Pay Rule for “batched” trips, ending the unlawful practice of paying a lower rate for certain legs of a trip.   

  

•   Internal Controls: DoorDash must adopt internal controls to address the problems that led to violations and prevent future violations. The company must preserve records demonstrating compliance. 

 

•   Internal Compliance Monitor: DoorDash’s internal Compliance Monitor will oversee all aspects of the company’s compliance with the settlement. The monitor must document instances of noncompliance, the company’s response and how each issue was resolved. The monitor must also submit an annual report and sworn statement to DCWP certifying compliance with each requirement of the settlement and disclosing and correcting any instances of noncompliance.   

    

About the Minimum Pay Rate  

  

Since DCWP began enforcing the Minimum Pay Rate in December 2023, pay for food delivery workers has increased substantially alongside consumer demand.   

  

The Minimum Pay Rate is adjusted annually for inflation and is currently $22.13 per hour, excluding tips.  

  

How Workers Will Receive Relief  

  

Workers do not need to file a claim or submit evidence to receive payment. DCWP has identified all individuals owed money through its analysis of DoorDash’s records.  

  

In late October, DCWP’s Settlement Administrator will send personalized emails to each worker who experienced an underpayment from April 22, 2022 to June 28, 2026. Emails will be sent to the last email address the worker used with DoorDash and will state the amount the worker is owed.   

  

Workers will be able to choose between an electronic payment and a check by mail. Workers who do not make a selection will receive a check at their last-known address.   

  

A hotline will be available beginning at the end of September for workers with questions or who need to update their email address.  

  

A second round of payments will be made to a small group of DoorDash workers in early 2027 because DoorDash is still correcting elements of the compensable-time calculation logic that caused additional underpayments. This issue may affect workers using DashLink who are entitled to the Minimum Pay Rate.  

  

Delivery workers who believe their rights are being violated can file a complaint with DCWP at nyc.gov/workers.

HERNANDEZ UNVEILS FRAUD STRIKE TEAM AS MEDICAID COSTS SURGE AND FRAUD CONVICTIONS COLLAPSE

 

Joseph Hernandez, Republican candidate for New York State Comptroller, today demanded answers from Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney General Letitia James after new data showed New York’s Medicaid spending more than doubled while criminal Medicaid fraud convictions collapsed.

 

Hernandez also announced a plan to create a dedicated Fraud Strike Team in the Comptroller’s Office.

 

Since 2010, New York’s Medicaid spending has grown 123%, from $51.8 billion to $115.6 billion in state fiscal year 2025. The current budget funds a $122.6 billion program.

 

Over the same period, criminal Medicaid fraud convictions fell from 102 in 2010 to 25 in 2025, a 75% decline. In the decade before 2020, the unit averaged 71 fraud convictions a year. Since 2020, it has averaged just 15.

 

“New York taxpayers now pay more than twice as much for Medicaid, and the number of people held criminally accountable for stealing from it has fallen off a cliff,” Hernandez said. “Where was the watchdog?”

 

This summer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General denied recertification of New York’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and suspended its federal funding. Federal officials said the unit had “repeatedly produced the lowest levels of criminal Medicaid fraud enforcement among large states,” despite receiving roughly $60 million in federal funding annually and employing more than 270 staff.

 

“The federal government just pulled the plug on the state’s fraud unit,” Hernandez said. “That is not a technicality. It is a verdict on how this state has policed its most expensive program.”

 

The Attorney General runs the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting Medicaid fraud. The Comptroller is the state’s chief fiscal officer and has held the office since 2007.

 

“One office is supposed to prosecute fraud. The other is supposed to sound the alarm on waste and abuse of taxpayer money,” Hernandez said. “Between them, New Yorkers got a program that costs more and a fraud unit that federal regulators say is failing. Tom DiNapoli owes voters an answer: what did your office do about it, and when?”

 

On day one, Hernandez will establish a dedicated Fraud Strike Team inside the Comptroller’s Office to audit, investigate, and refer suspected fraud. The team will target high-risk areas including home care agencies, non-emergency medical transportation, and the CDPAP fiscal intermediary transition.

 

The Strike Team will use claims analytics to flag suspicious billing patterns, refer suspected fraud directly to prosecutors and the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, and publicly report every quarter on referrals and enforcement outcomes.

 

“Fraud doesn’t fix itself, and it won’t be fixed by an office that only shows up after the money is gone,” Hernandez said. “My Strike Team will find it, refer it, and publish the results every quarter, so no one can look the other way.”

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Decline in New York

 

Rates Remain High in Some Private Sector Industries

Workplace injuries and illnesses among private sector businesses in New York declined nearly 18% between 2014 and 2024, falling to 122,400 incidents, according to a new report by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Fewer than two workers per 100 were injured or fell ill on the job in 2024; however, rates in several subsectors were significantly higher.

“New York’s private sector workplaces have become safer over the last decade,” DiNapoli said. “These improvements are meaningful, considering the size of New York’s workforce and the ripple effects these incidents can have on business operations and economic activity. However, some industries have a persistently high rate of injuries and illnesses. Strengthening safety practices in workplaces with chronically high injuries and illnesses can reduce workplace disruptions and, most importantly, protect workers’ health and lives.”

Workplace injuries declined sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic and have remained lower than pre-pandemic levels, which averaged 136,250 incidents annually from 2014-2019. The steep decline may reflect the rise in the number of people working from home. In contrast, workplace illnesses spiked during the pandemic. Although they have since declined, illnesses were higher than the pre-pandemic annual average by more than 1,000 cases.

In 2024, 1.9 per 100 workers in New York were injured or fell ill on the job, lower than the national average of 2.3. However, rates were higher than the statewide average in six industries, including transportation and warehousing (4 per 100 workers), health care and social assistance (2.8), retail trade (2.8), leisure and hospitality (2.5), manufacturing (2.5), and natural resources and mining (2.3). However, rates for these sectors were lower in New York than nationally.

Each industry is comprised of subsectors, and 33 of the 61 subsectors had higher rates of injuries and illnesses than their industry averages. Couriers and messengers reported the highest rate at 7.5 per 100 workers, followed by air transportation (6), and warehousing and storage (5.3). Accommodation (leisure and hospitality) and nursing home and residential facilities (health care and social assistance) were the only other subsectors with rates above 5 per 100 employees. In each of these subsectors, more than 1 in 20 workers fell sick or got injured on their job in 2024.

DiNapoli’s report also found:

• New York’s 2024 statewide average of 1.9 incidents per 100 workers was the fifth-lowest rate among reporting states and Washington D.C.
• The number of incidents that required days away from work, restricted job duties, or job transfers fell to 1.1 per 100 workers in 2024, the lowest since 1995. However, the share of all incidents in 2024 with these results increased to 58%, up from 50% in 1995 and 54% in 2014.
• The most common workplace injuries and illnesses in New York for the biennial period 2023 - 2024 were sprains, strains, and tears (51,420), with the coronavirus the top illness for workers.
• The overwhelming majority (81%) of injuries and illnesses were due to three sources: overexertion or repetitive motion; contact incidents, such as contact with heavy machinery or electricity; and falls, slips and trips.

Report

Hurt at Work: Workplace Injuries in New York’s Private School Industries

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COIB Settlements Announced

 

The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (the “Board”) announces three settlements.

 

Misuse of City Resources. In 2025, Council Member Mercedes Narcisse ran for a second term. On October 16, 2025, less than three weeks before Election Day and nine days before early voting began, the Council Member posted a video to her Instagram account in which she speaks about her achievements in and out of the Council; the video was filmed at locations inside City Hall where members of the public cannot shoot videos. By using City space that is not available to members of the public in support of her reelection campaign, the Council Member used a City resource for a non-City purpose. To resolve her violation, the Council Member agreed to pay a $2,500 fine. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (City Council).”

 

Misuse of City Position; Superior-Subordinate Financial Relationship. From 2023 to 2025, a Principal for the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”) supervised a Guidance Counselor with whom she lived and had a child. While she was supervising the Guidance Counselor, the Principal approved his per session (overtime) work, approved one of his leave requests, completed his performance evaluation, and recommended him for tenure, which he was granted. Through this conduct, the Principal misused her City position to benefit herself and a person with whom she was associated. In addition, the Principal and Guidance Counselor both violated the prohibition on a superior and a subordinate entering into a financial relationship with each other. In joint settlements with the Board and DOE, the Principal and Guidance Counselor agreed to pay fines of $7,500 and $4,250, respectively. The Dispositions are attached as “COIB-DOE Disposition 1” and “COIB-DOE Disposition 2.”

COIB is the independent, non-mayoral City agency charged with interpreting, administering, and enforcing the City's Conflicts of Interest Law, Annual Disclosure Law, Lobbyist Gift Law, Affiliated Not-for-Profits Law, and Legal Defense Trusts Law.

Mamdani Administration, NYCHA and Brooklyn Navy Yard Unveil Model Sustainability Apartment for Public Housing

 

New model apartment gives residents, builders and property managers a firsthand look at clean energy technologies being developed across NYCHA

Showcase features heat pumps, induction stoves, high-efficiency windows and radiant heat panels as NYCHA brings cleaner, more efficient technologies to its apartments 

Yesterday, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayors Leila Bozorg and Julie Su, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) President and CEO Lindsay Greene unveiled a model sustainability apartment showcasing the technologies that will help build a cleaner, healthier and more comfortable future for public housing residents.

Located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the model apartment brings together technologies that are being incorporated into NYCHA modernization projects across the city, including window heat pumps, 120-volt induction stoves, triple-pane insulated casement windows and infrared heat panels.

The apartment will give NYCHA residents, design-build teams, property managers and other stakeholders an opportunity to see and experience the technologies firsthand as they plan and carry out future public housing renovations.

The showcase builds on the 2026 NYCHA Sustainability Agenda, which sets a five-year goal of transitioning 20,000 NYCHA apartments from inefficient, fossil fuel-based heating systems to clean, efficient heat pumps and installing modern induction stoves in 10,000 apartments. The agenda also includes goals around energy efficiency, electric vehicle charging, solar power and climate resilience.

“For too long, New Yorkers living in public housing have been asked to wait for the investments they deserve. We are changing that by putting NYCHA at the forefront of climate innovation. The technologies in this model apartment show how we are delivering a stronger, more sustainable future for public housing. Cleaner heat, better cooling and modern appliances can make homes more comfortable while helping us build a city that is ready for the climate challenges ahead,” said Mayor Mamdani.

"The future of public housing is green,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg. “With the heat pumps, induction stove, and other technology on display at the model sustainability apartment, we're making it easier than ever to see examples of the improvements available to NYCHA residents as part of comprehensive renovations at their properties. We'll keep fighting for the investment that NYCHA needs in order to bring these innovative appliances to even more New Yorkers."

"This model apartment shows residents exactly what modernization looks like in practice, and it shows our partners how to build it at scale,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “NYCHA households deserve reliable heat, working appliances and homes that don't cost a fortune to run, and this administration is putting the capital and the technology behind that goal."

“NYCHA is building a future where public housing is not only preserved, but transformed through innovation, sustainability, and investments that improve the quality of life for residents,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “This model apartment gives our partners, stakeholders, and residents the opportunity to see that future taking shape and to experience firsthand the technologies that will help us create healthier, more efficient, and more resilient homes. I thank Mayor Mamdani and his administration for their commitment to advancing this work, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard for generously providing a space where we can bring this vision to life and continue exploring the next generation of solutions for NYCHA residents.”

“At the Brooklyn Navy Yard, we’re proud to support this effort that demonstrates how investments in sustainability and innovation can create healthier, more comfortable homes for public housing residents,” said Lindsay Greene, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. “These technologies and appliances demonstrate how local government can create opportunities for businesses to develop solutions with the potential to benefit residents and buildings across New York City and beyond. This showroom brings that work to light, giving residents, advocates, and policymakers a tangible way to see the benefits of energy efficiency and resilient building improvements. When we improve the energy efficiency of any building in New York City, it benefits all New Yorkers, and creates opportunities beyond as well."

“NYCHA’s approach to modernization is grounded in a simple principle: we must invest in technologies that are innovative, but also proven, reliable, and capable of addressing the challenge of installing new efficient systems in existing buildings as we modernize heating systems across our portfolio,” said NYCHA Chief Asset and Capital Management Officer Dylan Baker-Rice. “The technologies showcased here represent that approach and demonstrate how thoughtful capital investments can deliver both dependable heating and cooling systems and meaningful sustainability improvements. By bringing these technologies together in one place, we can give our project partners, property managers, and other stakeholders a clear understanding of how these solutions can be integrated into NYCHA’s capital and modernization projects and scaled to serve more residents across NYCHA and greater New York.”

“NYCHA’s 2026 Sustainability Agenda sets an ambitious course for creating more energy-efficient, resilient, and sustainable homes for our residents, and the technologies showcased in this model apartment bring those goals into focus,” said NYCHA Vice President for Sustainability Siobhan Watson. “From transitioning 20,000 apartments to clean heating and cooling to installing 10,000 induction stoves, we are taking concrete steps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, lower energy consumption, and build a more sustainable public housing portfolio. This showroom allows us to demonstrate what that future can look like today as we continue implementing the innovations that will help NYCHA meet its sustainability goals by 2031.”

“Clean energy technologies such as heat pumps, induction stoves, and high-efficiency windows are critical in advancing New York State to a clean energy economy,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “Our collaboration with New York City and NYSERDA on innovative programs like Clean Heat for All and the Induction Stove Challenge improve NYCHA housing units and demonstrate an effective path forward for State-City partnerships. Through these innovative programs, we are bringing cleaner, more efficient technologies to city apartment dwellers so that they can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer and make meals at home in a more efficient way using modern technology.”

“The unveiling of new apartments at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is an example of how New York is harnessing innovation and strong public-private partnerships through the Clean Heat for All and Induction Stove Challenges to accelerate adoption of next-generation technologies,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “NYSERDA is proud to work alongside our partners at NYCHA and NYPA to advance clean energy solutions that can improve comfort, reduce energy use and deliver lasting benefits for New Yorkers.”

Many of the technologies featured in the model apartment were developed through procurement initiatives that use the Authority’s purchasing power to spur innovation and develop products specifically suited to the needs of public housing.

The technologies on display include:

• Window heat pumps: Packaged window heat pumps from Midea and Gradient, developed through the Clean Heat for All Challenge, are being incorporated into modernization projects as NYCHA works toward its goal of installing heat pumps in 20,000 apartments.
• High-efficiency windows: Intus casement windows designed with sleeves specifically suited for window heat pumps will help support their installation in NYCHA apartments.
• Induction stoves: Copper is developing a battery-operated electric induction stove that can be operated using standard 120-volt, 20-amp outlets, allowing induction cooking to be brought to older buildings without requiring major electrical upgrades. The company will produce 100 units for a pilot evaluation before broader rollout.
• Radiant heating panels: Far-infrared radiant (FIR) heating panels provide direct warmth without heating the surrounding air. 

The technologies are in different stages of development and deployment. Window heat pumps are installed or planned for installation at Woodside Houses, Morrisania Air Rights, Claremont Consolidated, and Beach 41st Street Houses, as well as at Bay View Houses and Campos Plaza II, which are undergoing comprehensive renovations through the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program. FIR heating panels are currently installed and providing heat to residents of Tilden Houses.

Yesterday’s announcement marks the latest milestone of the Clean Heat for All Challenge and the Induction Stove Challenge, a partnerships between NYCHA, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop new electrification products that can better serve the needs of existing multifamily buildings.

The model apartment will continue to be updated as new products become available, creating a living showcase for the technologies that can help modernize NYCHA homes.

Investing in Public Housing

These sustainability improvements are part of the Mamdani administration’s broader commitment to NYCHA. The City’s Fiscal Year 2027 capital plan includes $5.6 billion for NYCHA over five years, the largest capital commitment to the Authority in recent history.

The budget also includes $374 million in combined expense and capital funding to turn over vacant apartments for new residents, $42.5 million to launch a new Critical Repairs Initiative modeled on the Ombudsperson Call Center, and $5.9 million to repair and maintain elevators, among other investments.

Crown Medical Solutions and Its Owners to Pay $825,000 For Fraudulent Billing Scheme

 

Crown Medical Solutions LLC (Crown) and its owners, Michelle and Philanzo King, have agreed to pay $825,000 to resolve allegations that Crown and its owners violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payment to Medicare. 

Crown was a supplier of durable medical equipment (DME), such as knee braces, heel stabilizers, and back braces. The United States alleged that, from Nov. 1, 2017 through April 30, 2019, Crown and its owners billed Medicare for DME provided to Medicare beneficiaries that was not medically necessary and/or not properly prescribed by a physician. The settlement is based on defendants’ ability to pay.

“The Department of Justice is committed to fighting healthcare fraud and holding accountable those who exploit federal healthcare programs for personal profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Karen Martinelli. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Martinelli v. Crown Medical Solutions, LLC, et al., No. 1:19-cv-01660 (N.D. Ga.). As part of this resolution, Martinelli will receive approximately $123,750 of the settlement amount.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. 

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.

The matter was handled by Commercial Litigation Branch Trial Attorney Anna Jugo and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeli Ben-David for the Northern District of Georgia.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

Gainesville Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun & Drug Charges

Quardarell Henry Robinson, 38, of Gainesville, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of our federal law enforcement partners, and this successful prosecution by my office, this armed drug trafficker has been taken off our streets. Anyone peddling drugs and violence in my district will face the full might of the Department of Justice.”

Court documents reflect that in February 2026, the defendant threw a handbag and a loaded pistol outside of his vehicle while attempting to evade law enforcement. The handbag was recovered and found to contain over 140 grams of cocaine, cocaine base, individually packaged marijuana bags, other baggies, and an electronic scale.  Law enforcement also recovered a handgun in the area where defendant’s vehicle had stopped, which had been captured by nearby commercial business surveillance cameras.  Later, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence, where law enforcement recovered a loaded handgun and cookware that contained cocaine base. 

Robinson faces a minimum of five years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment.The plea was the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

HSI Investigation Leads to Conviction of Filipino Alien Who Illegally Voted in Pennsylvania

 

This alien was granted Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status by the Biden Administration

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led to the conviction of an alien from the Philippines who illegally voted in the 2024 election.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced that on September 16, Evelyn Novelles Miller, an alien from the Philippines and Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), pleaded guilty to illegally voting in the 2024 election.

Evelyn Novelles Miller

HSI Allentown initiated an investigation after receiving information regarding an individual residing in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, who may have registered to vote or voted unlawfully. Miller is alleged to have registered to vote on October 9, 2024, and to have voted in the November 5, 2024, general election.

On July 29, 2025, HSI and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agents interviewed Miller at her residence. Miller confirmed to agents that she registered to vote online before the 2024 general election and voted in person on Election Day. Miller further described the voting process, including going to her polling place in Emmaus.

“This alien from the Philippines pleaded guilty to illegally voting in the 2024 election in Pennsylvania,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of HSI, as well as our partners at the Department of Justice, this alien will soon face justice for her efforts to subvert our elections. American elections are for Americans only.”

HSI conducted the investigation in coordination with the FBI, and the investigative work supported the federal prosecution that resulted in Miller’s guilty plea for illegally voting in the 2024 general election.

Miller was granted LPR status by the Biden Administration on July 19, 2024.