Prince George's Private School, Principal Sued By Maryland For COVID-Related Fraud

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — The state has filed a lawsuit against Metropolitan Washington High School, a private school in Laurel, and its principal, Gamaliel Onyemaobi-Prince, for $140,000 in penalities for submitting a fraudulent application and forging supporting documents for COVID-related aid.

In response to the COVID pandemic, the Maryland State Department of Education made emergency funds available to private schools to cover COVID-related expenses such as cleaning supplies, PPE, improving ventilation systems, installing physical barriers to allow social distancing, testing and educational technology needed for on-line or hybrid instruction.

Onyemaobi-Prince submitted an application on behalf of Metropolitan Washington High School, claiming that the school enrolled 600 students and provided copies of receipts for supplies and services the school claimed to have purchased as a result of COVID. The school, however, allegedly operates out of a residential address and the receipts submitted were forgeries. The Maryland State Department of Education noticed the discrepancies and did not approve the application for COVID aid, according to the Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown.

“Maryland children faced unprecedented upheaval during the COVID pandemic and falsifying an application to wrongfully receive funds intended to alleviate some of that turmoil is inexcusable,” Brown said.

The Maryland False Claims Act prohibits the submission of false or fraudulent claims for payment from the government. Submission or a false or fraudulent claim is punishable by fines of up to $10,000 per instance and treble damages.

Anyone aware of fraudulent applications for or uses of COVID aid may report their suspicion to the Office of the Attorney General, False Claims Unit by calling 410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023 toll-free.