Capital Briefs: 3 Charged in Scheme To Rob FDIC, RTC

The federal government has accused three former contractors of ripping off $3.6 million from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and Resolution Trust Corp.

William W. Lange and Alisha A. Jensen Lange, a married couple in Corona Del Mar, Calif., and accountant Richard H.W. Bennett of Yorba Linda, Calif., were charged July 15 with overbilling and lying to obtain government contracts, the FDIC inspector general said. The contractors face a maximum $40.8 million in damages and fines.

From 1992 through 1994, the FDIC and RTC hired a Ms. Lange to run more than 12 auctions of failed institution assets. The auction company actually was owned by Mr. Lange, but the couple lied to take advantage of preferences for awarding contracts to woman-owned businesses, the government said.

John Petrasich, an Irvine, Calif., attorney representing the Langes and Mr. Bennett, denied the charges. He said the government is retaliating against Ms. Lange, who sued the FDIC in May to recover more than $500,000 for allegedly unpaid bills and canceled contracts.

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