Ethan Barton

Read the latest stories and analysis from Ethan Barton.

New Jersey doctor ordered life-threatening treatments in $19m fraud

Ethan Barton · November 21, 2013 5:00 am

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., right, shown here Nov. 14, said that providing adequate funding for the federal inspectors general could be a way to fix the national debt. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

More staff and bigger budgets for federal watchdogs will save billions, IGs tell Senate panel

Ethan Barton · November 20, 2013 5:00 am

After living as a fugitive in Ukraine for two years, Irina Shelikhova was sentenced Nov. 12 to 15 years in federal prison for leading a $77 million Medicare fraud scheme involving bribery, falsified records and money laundering over a five-year period. (Photo: Thinkstock)

$77m Medicare fraud earns scheme leader 15 years in prison

Ethan Barton · November 19, 2013 5:00 am

Edward Woodard, former CEO of the Virginia Bank of the Commonwealth, was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive fraud scheme that lined his own pockets and led to the bank's failure. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Banker gets 23 years for TARP fraud, must repay $333 million

Ethan Barton · November 8, 2013 5:00 am

A pair of California brothers pleaded guilty to an attempted beef theft. (Photo: Thinkstock).

Brothers pleaded guilty to failed beef theft scheme

Ethan Barton · November 8, 2013 5:00 am

Some of Ecotality's charging stations cost nearly three times as much as the original budgeted cost. (AP/John Raoux)

Energy and Environment

DOE hid green energy company Ecotality’s financial ills from IG

Ethan Barton · November 7, 2013 5:00 am

The financial program manager for one division ordered personalized boxes for silk ties "because she thought it was 'awesome,'" according to the report.

US Marshals Service slammed for spending $790,000 on swag

Ethan Barton · November 5, 2013 5:00 am

Medicare inappropriately paid $23 million for services that began after the death of more than 17,000 beneficiaries in 2011, according to the Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Medicare paid $23 million for services after beneficiaries’ deaths

Ethan Barton · November 1, 2013 4:00 am

US embassy in Belarus plagued by inadequate staffing, unsafe offices

Ethan Barton · October 31, 2013 4:00 am

(Thinkstock Image)

$10.5 million Medicare fraud scheme leads to guilty pleas in money-laundering conspiracy

Ethan Barton · October 31, 2013 4:00 am

A Department of Justice Inspector General audit found that a New Mexico nonprofit that received federal funds hired an employee's spouse and spent more than $1.3 million in questionable costs. (Examiner File/Graeme Jennings)

New Mexico nonprofit’s director awarded federally funded contract to spouse

Ethan Barton · October 24, 2013 4:00 am

A Texas physician was sentenced to 52 months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $7 million in restitution after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, according to the Justice Department. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Texas doctor made millions in Medicare scheme, gets 52 months in slammer

Ethan Barton · October 24, 2013 4:00 am