KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Olathe, Kansas, man who conspired with others to control construction businesses that received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal government contracts, was sentenced in federal court today for defrauding the government with respect to contracts set aside for service-disabled veterans and certified minorities.
“This contractor not only defrauded the government, but cheated to get contracts that should have gone to firms led by disabled veterans and minority owners,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “His greed and deception allowed him to enrich himself at the expense of disabled veterans and minority owners. After forfeiting more than $5.5 million to the government and being sent to prison, he has learned the hard way that crime doesn’t pay.”
Matthew C. McPherson, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to two years and four months in federal prison without parole. McPherson also has forfeited to the government $5,516,786, which represents his share of the fraud proceeds.
“Today’s outcome demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the DoD procurement process and the Small Business Administration set-aside programs intended to help smaller and/or disadvantaged businesses,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael C. Mentavlos, DCIS Southwest Field Office. “We…