DOJ fines USAID affiliate $3.1 million over fraud committed by Nigerian HIV/AIDS contractor Zenith Carex

https://gazettengr.com ^ | Feb 9, 2025 | ADEFEMOLA AKINTADE

[11th_VA]

Chemonics International Inc. agreed to pay a fine of $3.1 million to the U.S. government over the fraudulent activities of its Nigerian subcontractor Zenith Carex for inflating its bills, massively overcharging U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for distributing sensitive HIV/AIDS treatment packages.

USAID had awarded the contract of delivering certain healthcare products to Chemonics, which later hired Zenith Carex for last-mile delivery (LMD) and long-haul delivery (LHD) services to execute the contract.

Zenith Carex, a logistics and freight forwarding company based in Abuja, Nigeria, inflated its invoices to deliver the products which include HIV test reagents, a financial crime that lasted for years specifically between May 2017 and March 2020.

Investigations revealed that the Nigerian company overcharged Chemonics based “on truck tonnage as opposed to the weight per kilogram of the commodity transported.”

Chemonics which did not immediately suspect foul play passed all the fraudulent bills to USAID for payment.

The U.S. government condemned Chemonics, particularly that the company “acted recklessly in failing to detect fraudulent charges by” Zenith Carex which must have had inside help to perpetrate the fraud.

“Government contractors must exercise responsible oversight and management of their subcontractors to ensure contract compliance and appropriate billing,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton said in a statement on December 19, 2024.

Chemonics was able to identify an employee suspected of colluding with Zenith Carex to inflate invoices. The company fired the suspect, a move that convinced prosecutors that the Washington-based contractor was not in on the fraud.

Still, USAID asked Chemonics to pay $3.1 million in a settlement agreement as consequences for its laxity to conduct proper checks and balance.

“Today’s settlement demonstrates the department’s commitment to hold accountable those who knowingly or recklessly submit false claims for payment to the United States no matter where in the world the underlying conduct occurs,” Mr Boynton added.

Special agent Sean Bottary in charge of the case said the settlement was proof that justice will always be served and cannot be limited by borders…

[11th_VA]

There’s a Nigerian Prince involved here somewhere …

[nopardons]

BTTT

[11th_VA]

‘A disaster waiting to happen’: how USAID’s $10bn health project unravelled‘

Within its first two years of operation, the largest ever project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was in crisis.

The $9.5bn initiative was led by US contractor Chemonics International. Its aim was to transform global health supply chains – the sprawling system of procurement and transport that delivers life-saving products including HIV/Aids drugs, mosquito nets and contraceptives to millions around the globe.

The supply chain served as the backbone for the US government’s most celebrated global health programmes, including the HIV/Aids initiative credited with saving 25 million lives. But this project aimed to go one step further, by improving supply chains to the point that they could be managed by the countries themselves.

By the spring of 2017, it was clear the project was failing. During its worst quarter, only 7% of its shipments arrived at their destinations on time and in full. Project leaders scrambled as multiple countries ran short of essential health products and faced stock-outs... (Let’s help the USA first)

[dp0622]

Why was ANY of this happening when we’ve had an insane debt since the early 2000s!!!

Yes, at the end of 2003 it was already 7 Trillion.

NOTHING above essentials should have been spent at that point.

Now look!! Good God in Heaven...36 trillion.

If anyone can turn the ship around, it’s Trump and his team.

Action and prayers. Both needed.

[TigersEye]

More info on Chemonics. The fraud there is way bigger than $3.1 million dollars.

Ian Carroll: Why Did "Chemonics International" Receive BILLIONS From the USAID CIA Front Group? Rumble 8:55

[Liz]

Why Did "Chemonics International" Receive BILLIONS From USAID?

TheLibertyDaily.com

Founded in 1975, Chemonics is a leading global sustainable development firm w/ 6,000+ professionals in more than 100 countries around the globe, and 90 percent are working in a place called home. Our teams reflect a "diversity" of technical expertise and local knowledge, because solving complex development challenges requires both. And as a company, we are committed to connections – global and local, human and technological – that allow learnings to efficiently flow and adapt between experts, projects, and countries.

Chemonics International Inc. is a private for-profit international development firm based in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1975 by Thurston F. Teele as a subsidiary of Erly Industries.

When the Constitution, Section 4, Article 2, talks about high crimes and misdemeanors it means the crimes conducted by our leaders who were in high places or positions. Time to apply that to those treasonous acts of bribery and corruption retroactively to at least one president and Secretary of State.

[Liz]

Why Did "Chemonics International" Receive BILLIONS From USAID?

TheLibertyDaily.com

Founded in 1975, Chemonics is a leading global sustainable development firm w/ 6,000+ professionals in more than 100 countries around the globe, and 90 percent are working in a place called home. Our teams reflect a "diversity" of technical expertise and local knowledge, because solving complex development challenges requires both. And as a company, we are committed to connections – global and local, human and technological – that allow learnings to efficiently flow and adapt between experts, projects, and countries.

Chemonics International Inc. is a private for-profit international development firm based in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1975 by Thurston F. Teele as a subsidiary of Erly Industries.

When the Constitution, Section 4, Article 2, talks about high crimes and misdemeanors it means the crimes conducted by our leaders who were in high places or positions. Time to apply that to those treasonous acts of bribery and corruption retroactively to at least one president and Secretary of State.

[Liz]

Zenith Carex, a logistics and freight forwarding company based in Abuja, Nigeria, inflated its invoices to deliver products which included HIV test reagents, a financial crime that lasted for years specifically between May 2017 and March 2020.

Chemonics International Inc. agreed to pay a fine of $3.1 million to the U.S. government over the fraudulent activities of its Nigerian subcontractor Zenith Carex
<><>for inflating its bills,
<><>massively overcharging USAID for distributing HIV/AIDS treatments.

USAID had awarded the contract of delivering certain healthcare products to Chemonics, which later hired Zenith Carex for last-mile delivery (LMD) and long-haul delivery (LHD) services to execute the contract.

[roving]

Who pays these fines? The taxpayer? How is this a punishment?

[CFW]

There’s a Nigerian Prince involved here somewhere …

---

Former President Biden’s deputy secretary of Treasury “Wally” Adeyemo is Nigerian.

[Fresh Wind]

A Nigerian prince named Barry?

[exnavy]

This story reminds me of the $900.00 hammers the military bought in the 1970’s. It’s that mil-spec thingy.

[Adder]

Sounds like no one watched USAID for years, letting them do whatever with no oversight. [Yeah, I am noting the years involved in this one...]

What a leftist slush fund...

[tired&retired]

They get $9.5 billion and are fined $3.1 million!

[Ann Archy]

The Nigerian was in CHARGE of ALL OF OUR $6 TRILION....TRILLION with a T....$6 TRILLION was overseen by a NIGERIAN!! OMG!

Where is WALLY TODAY??

[Ann Archy]

Yeah....LOOK at the WRITER’S NAME!!

[CFW]

Wally” Adeyemo is heading to Columbia University. They probably planned to pay him with a USAID grant.

------

https://igp.sipa.columbia.edu/distinguished-fellows/wally-adeyemo

"Wally Adeyemo served as the 15th US deputy secretary of the Treasury and chief operating officer of the 100,000 employee department. Adeyemo played a leading role in Treasury’s national security and economic inequality work, and in implementing some of the department’s top policy priorities.

Adeyemo was responsible for the department's use of economic tools in service of protecting US national security, including financial sanctions and the work of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. He also oversaw Treasury’s implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, which is the most significant investment in the economy, energy security, and climate change in a generation, as well as the most significant effort in decades to modernize the Internal Revenue Service.

Prior to his service in the Biden Administration, Adeyemo served as the president of the Barack Obama Foundation. He also previously served as deputy national security advisor for international economics and deputy director of the National Economic Council.

Adeyemo will simultaneously serve as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at SIPA's Center for Global Energy Policy."

[bert]

Adeyemo is Black

[Iron Munro]

Somewhere in there is a hidden kickback or two or three...

[CFW]

“Adeyemo is Black”

---

Yes. Given he is from Nigeria that was assumed. And, it’s also obvious from his picture. I’m not sure of your point.