Hilcorp San Juan to pay $35M for royalty payment false claims
By 
Kyle Brasseur2024-01-22T16:00:00
Oil and gas company Hilcorp San Juan agreed to pay $34.6 million as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) addressing allegations of False Claims Act violations regarding underpaid royalties on oil and natural gas produced from federal lands.
The settlement, announced Friday, resulted from a U.S. investigation into certain of Hilcorp’s leases in the San Juan Basin in northwest New Mexico and southwest Colorado and their associated royalty payments.
From August 2017 through December 2018, Hilcorp paid federal royalties on oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids for its leases based on estimated volumes and prices instead of actual volumes and prices, the DOJ alleged. When estimated payments are made, the law requires actual payments be made the following month.
Related articles
-
PremiumDOJ official: Expect more cybersecurity false claim enforcements
The announcement of a record year in several areas of False Claims Act enforcement at the Department of Justice was accompanied by a warning that more significant cases are coming, particularly regarding cybersecurity-related claims.
-
News BriefCourt bumps Gen Digital false claims judgment to $53M
An opinion in a long-running court case involving software company Gen Digital and alleged violations of the False Claims Act saw proposed costs in the matter jump from $1.3 million to approximately $53 million following successful arguments by the U.S. government.
-
News BriefBoeing to pay $8.1M over Navy contract false claims
Aerospace giant Boeing agreed to pay $8.1 million as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice addressing allegations it submitted false claims regarding military aircraft contracts it had with the Navy.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
News BriefFTC raises antitrust concerns over $1.57B Circle K deal, orders divestitures
Since President Donald Trump took office, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has yet to keep up the level of enforcement it had under previous chair Lina Khan. The agency, however, returned to antitrust action in the case of fuel stations, just in time for the July 4th holiday.
-
News BriefJudge reinstates fired CPSC commissioners in latest battle over government cuts
In May, three commissioners for the Consumer Product Safety Commission were abruptly fired by President Donald Trump and sued for their jobs shortly after. A federal judge has ruled that the commissioners should be reinstated, although it’s unclear whether that ruling may itself be reversed.
-
PremiumUK’s Failure to Prevent Fraud law may expose firms to unlimited fines and prosecution, says Moody’s compliance risk expert
Fraud now accounts for around 40% of all crime in the U.K., posing a major problem for banks and consumers. Ted Datta, head of industry practice for financial crime compliance at Moody’s, warns that the risk is growing fast.