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Jocelyn Walcott

Jocelyn A.K. Walcott is an associate in the firm’s Washington, DC office. She is a member of the Government Contracts and White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Groups. She represents clients on a range of government contracts and enforcement matters. She has experience advising clients facing government investigations, including actions brought under the False Claims Act and those concerning alleged cybersecurity violations.

Before joining the firm, Jocelyn clerked for the Honorable Loretta Copeland Biggs and the Honorable Joi Elizabeth Peake of the Middle District of North Carolina.

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On July 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) and General Services Administration (GSA) announced a $14.75 million settlement of Civil False Claims Act allegations against IT company Hill ASC Inc. (Hill).  This settlement is consistent with the current Administration’s focus on “fraud, waste, and abuse” in government procurement and the recent DoJ FCA initiative focused on cybersecurity fraud.  This also follows the Department’s Criminal Division announcement of corporate procurement fraud as an enforcement priority.

The government alleged that between 2018 and 2023 Hill provided information technology services to federal agencies through the GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program.  The settlement resolved allegations that: (i) Hill billed federal agencies for information technology personnel who lacked the experience and/or education required under the contract; (ii) Hill had not passed GSA’s required technical evaluations for contractors who sought to offer highly adaptive cybersecurity services to government customers; (iii) Hill submitted claims for cybersecurity services and other services that were not within the scope of the contract; and (iv) Hill charged the government for unapproved fees, failed to provide government customers with required information about discounts for prompt payment, and included unallowable incentive compensation in a cost submission in connection with a new contract proposal (which the settlement agreement acknowledges that Hill withdrew before any contract based on the proposal was awarded.)

To settle these allegations, Hill agreed to pay $14.75 million “plus additional amounts if certain financial contingencies occur.”  The settlement imposes additional financial requirements including that Hill pay the United States 2.5% of its annual gross revenue that exceeds $18,800,000.00 from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2029 (named the “Revenue Contingency Period”).  It appears that the amount of damages initially sought by the government was higher because DoJ noted that the settlement amount was based on “the company’s ability to pay.” Continue Reading Recent Cybersecurity FCA Settlement Demonstrates Heightened FCA Risk to Government Contractors