Lance Armstrong Accused of Defrauding U.S. in Lawsuit
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Former champion cyclist Lance Armstrong defrauded the U.S. by using banned substances, the government said in a complaint filed under the False Claims Act that joins a lawsuit brought by his ex-teammate Floyd Landis.
The Justice Department, in the complaint filed today in federal court in Washington, brought six counts of false claims, fraud and unjust enrichment against Mr. Armstrong, his team manager Johan Bruyneel and team owner Tailwind Sports Corp. An additional breach of contract claim was brought against Tailwind.
The government, which told the court in February that it would join the Landis suit, alleges the U.S. paid about $40 million in false claims through the team’s contract with the U.S. Postal Service from 1998 through 2004. Tailwind used Postal Service sponsorship fees to pay Armstrong’s salary of $17.9 million during those years, according to the complaint. The U.S. is seeking triple damages.
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