Alabama company paying $1.15 million to feds

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The U.S. Justice Department says Montgomery-based Caddell Construction has agreed to pay the government $1.15 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act.

The department said Monday the allegations involve falsely reporting to the Army Corps of Engineers that Caddell hired and mentored a Native American-owned company to work on construction projects at Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Campbell, Ky.

The department said Caddell represented that it would hire and mentor Mountain Chief Management when building barracks at the two bases. The government alleged Caddell falsely reported invoices and supporting documents that is was mentoring Mountain Chief and that Mountain Chief was performing work.

A former Caddell executive, Mark Hill, and Mountain Chief's former president, Daniel Chattin, were indicted last year and are awaiting trial.