Qui Tam Complaint — United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Group Voyagers, Inc. (Dkt. 1)
Summary
Qui Tam Complaint in United States of America ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Group Voyagers, Inc., Case No. 1:24-cv-01671-KAS, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, filed 06/14/24 as Document 1 under seal pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 3730(b)(2). The Relator seeks to recover $2 million, plus mandatory trebling, that it alleges Defendant wrongfully obtained as a Second Draw PPP loan by falsely certifying that it had fewer than 300 employees. It alleges that Defendant certified 296 employees, obtained a Second Draw PPP loan of $2,000,000.00 that was later forgiven, and that Forms 5500 filed for Defendant's 401(k) plan show more than 300 active participants in each of 2019, 2020, and 2021. The complaint is dated June 14, 2024 and signed /s/ Paul H. Schwartz.
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“Qui Tam Complaint — United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Group Voyagers, Inc. (Dkt. 1).”
Original at archive.org. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/court-filing-no-1-24-cv-01671-dkt-1-d-colo-84ba3f4edc/
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Case No. 1:24-cv-01671-KAS Document 1 filed 06/14/24 USDC Colorado pg 1
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Civil Action No. ___________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ex rel. VERITY INVESTIGATIONS, LLC,
Plaintiff/Relator,
v.
GROUP VOYAGERS, INC.,
Defendant.
QUI TAM COMPLAINT
FILED UNDER SEAL PURSUANT TO 31 U.S.C. § 3730(b)(2)
DO NOT PLACE IN PRESS BOX
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
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I. INTRODUCTION
1. This is a qui tam case, filed on behalf of the federal government, seeking to recover
$2 million (plus mandatory trebling) that Defendant wrongfully obtained in the form of a federal
guaranteed loan by falsely certifying that it had fewer than 300 employees. That loan was later
forgiven, and the federal government paid the bill.
2. The loan in question was provided by the Small Business Administration’s
(“SBA’s”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). Congress created the PPP near the start of the
COVID-19 epidemic in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”)
in 2020, and then received additional funding ($284 billion) in December 2020 in the “Economic
Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act.” 1 15 U.S.C. § 636(a)(37).
3. In early 2021, SBA authorized a second series of PPP loans, widely referred to as
“Second Draw” PPP loans. This case involves a false application for a Second Draw PPP loan.
4. The Second Draw PPP loans were made available only to “small” businesses. The
SBA established a clear, bright-line rule for who counted as “small.” Each applicant was required
to certify in its application that it—collectively with its affiliates—employed 300 or fewer
persons. 2
5. Defendant falsely certified to the SBA that it had 296 employees. As a direct result
of that false statement, Defendant obtained a Second Draw PPP loan of $2,000,000.00, which was
later forgiven.
1
SBA INSPECTOR GENERAL INSPECTION REPORT, The Small Business Administration's Implementation of
Recommended Controls and the Economic Aid Act (Aug. 12, 2021), https://www.sba.gov/sites/sbagov/files/2021-
08/SBA%20OIG%20Report%2021-19.pdf.
2
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, Second Draw PPP loan, https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-
19-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program/second-draw-ppp-loan.
2
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6. Relator is an outside investigative company that detected Defendant’s fraud by
reviewing the Forms 5500 that Defendant’s employees’ 401(k) plan filed with the Department of
Labor. Those forms, combined with other evidence, show that the 401(k) plan had more than 300
“active participants” in each of 2019, 2020, and 2021. Because an “active participant” is an
employee, these representations by Defendant to the Department of Labor give the lie to
Defendant’s false certification to the SBA that it employed fewer than 300 persons.
II. THE PARTIES
7. Plaintiff Verity Investigations LLC (“Relator”) is an investigative firm formed by
two professionals with widespread experience in detecting and reporting fraud on the U.S. public
fisc.
8. Defendant Group Voyagers, Inc. (“Group Voyagers”) is a New York corporation
with its principal place of business in Denver, Colorado.
III. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
9. This action arises under the laws of the United States to redress violations of the
Federal False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729–33 (“FCA”).
10. Subject-matter jurisdiction is conferred by 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1345.
11. Venue is proper, and this Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant, because
Defendant is “found” in this District. 31 U.S.C. § 3732(a).
IV. THE FALSE CLAIMS ACT
12. The FCA is the primary civil statute designed to remedy and deter fraud upon the
United States. Its purpose is to “enhance the Government’s ability to recover losses sustained as a
result of fraud against the Government.” S. Rep. No. 99-345, at 1 (July 28, 1986).
3
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13. A defendant violates the FCA when the defendant “knowingly presents, or causes
to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval.” 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(A).
14. Under the FCA, a claim includes a request for money. 31 U.S.C. § 3729(b)(2). A
claim is “false or fraudulent” under the FCA if the entity or person submitting the claim was not
entitled to payment.
15. In 2009, Congress amended the FCA through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery
Act of 2009 (“FERA”), Pub. L. No. 111-21 (May 20, 2009), making a defendant liable under the
FCA when the defendant “knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or
statement material to a false or fraudulent claim.” 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(B).
16. Under the FCA, the terms “knowing” and “knowingly” mean that the defendant “(i)
has actual knowledge of the information; (ii) acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of
the information; or (iii) acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information.” 31
U.S.C. § 3729(b)(1)(A).
17. No proof of specific intent to defraud the government is required to show that a
defendant acted knowingly under the FCA. 31 U.S.C. § 3729(b)(1)(B).
18. The terms “knowing,” “knowingly,” “knowledge,” “knows,” and “knew,” as used
in this Complaint, have the meaning ascribed to them by the FCA.
19. The FCA defines the term “material” as “having a natural tendency to influence, or
be capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property.” 31 U.S.C. § 3729(b)(4).
20. The FCA broadly defines a “claim” as “any request or demand . . . for money or
property” that: “(i) is presented to an officer, employee, or agent of the United States,” or “(ii) is
made to a contractor, grantee, or other recipient, if the money or property is to be spent or used on
the Government’s behalf or to advance a Government program or interest, and if the United States
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Government (I) provides or has provided any portion of the money or property requested or
demanded; or (II) will reimburse such contractor, grantee, or other recipient for any portion of the
money or property which is requested or demanded.” 31 U.S.C. § 3729(b)(2).
21. The FCA imposes treble damages plus a civil penalty for each false claim. See 31
U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1).
22. The minimum and maximum civil penalty amounts are adjusted for inflation each
successive year under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of
2015, Pub. L. No. 114-74, § 701, 129 Stat. 584, 599–601 (2015). See 28 C.F.R. § 85.5 (identifying
applicable inflation adjustments on an annual basis); 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1).
23. As of February 12, 2024, courts must assess a civil penalty of no less than $13,946
and no more than $27,894 per claim for FCA violations that occurred after November 2, 2015. See
28 C.F.R. § 85.5 Table 1.
24. False statements made in a loan application to a third-party lender qualify as “false
claims” to the government where, as here, the loan is guaranteed by the federal government and
the federal government later repays the lender. See United States v. Van Oosterhout, 96 F.3d 1491,
1494 (D.C. Cir. 1996).
V. NO “PUBLIC DISCLOSURE” AND RELATOR IS AN ORIGINAL SOURCE
25. On information and belief, no “public disclosure” has been made of Defendant’s
false statement and fraud detailed herein. 31 U.S.C. § 3730(e)(4)(A).
26. On information and belief, Defendant’s fraudulent transactions have not been
publicly disclosed in a federal criminal, civil, or administrative hearing in which the government
or its agent is a party; in a congressional, Government Accountability Office, or other federal
report, hearing, audit, or investigation; or by the news media.
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27. Even if there had been a “public disclosure,” that would not matter in this case
because Relator is an “original source of the information” set forth in this complaint. 31 U.S.C.
§ 3730(e)(4)(A).
28. Relator’s knowledge is independent of and materially adds to any publicly
disclosed aspects of the fraudulent transactions described herein. Among other things, Relator has
“connected the dots” between (a) Defendant’s Form 5500 disclosures and other statements, and
(b) Defendant’s false certification for the Second Draw Loan.
29. Prior to filing this action, Relator voluntarily provided the government with this
complaint and all material evidence in Relator’s possession relating to the fraudulent transactions.
VI. THE SECOND DRAW PPP LOAN PROGRAM
30. To be eligible for a Second Draw PPP loan, borrowers were required to meet three
criteria: (1) have “[p]reviously received a First Draw PPP Loan,” (2) “[have] no more than 300
employees,” and (3) be able to “demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between
comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.” 3 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(37)(A)(iv).
31. The SBA’s website explained the 300-limit to borrowers. It did so on the overview
page of the website 4 and in the online “Frequently Asked Questions” document available on the
website. 5
32. The SBA’s FAQ document made clear that this limit was “narrower” than the prior
500-employee limit for the earlier First Draw PPP loans. 6
3
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, Second Draw PPP loan, https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-
19-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program/second-draw-ppp-loan.
4
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, Second Draw PPP loan, https://perma.cc/R74F-68UQ?type=image (as of
March 2021).
5
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FAQ for PPP Borrowers and Lenders, https://perma.cc/5Y8K-CR5Y (as of
March 2021).
6
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FAQ for PPP Borrowers and Lenders, at 29,
https://www.sba.gov/document/support-faq-ppp-borrowers-lenders.
6
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33. The SBA’s FAQ document warned borrowers that, unlike with the First Draw PPP
loans, borrowers would not be allowed to qualify using “SBA’s [other] established size standards
(either revenue-based or employee-based) or the alternative size standard.” 7
34. The SBA’s FAQ stated that “borrowers” were “required to apply SBA’s affiliation
rules under 13 C.F.R. 121.301(f).” 8
35. That regulation—13 C.F.R. 121.301(f)—stated that when counting “employees,”
an applicant must include the employees of “all of its domestic and foreign affiliates.” 13 C.F.R.
121.301(f)(6).
36. That regulation defined “affiliate” broadly. The term includes “affiliation based on
ownership”: “For determining affiliation based on equity ownership, a concern is an affiliate of an
individual, concern, or entity that owns or has the power to control more than 50 percent of the
concern's voting equity. If no individual, concern, or entity is found to control, SBA will deem the
Board of Directors or President or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (or other officers, managing
members, or partners who control the management of the concern) to be in control of the concern.
SBA will deem a minority shareholder to be in control, if that individual or entity has the ability,
under the concern's charter, by-laws, or shareholder's agreement, to prevent a quorum or otherwise
block action by the board of directors or shareholders.” See 13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f)(1). 9
Affiliation may also arise “under stock options, convertible securities, and agreements to
merge.” See 13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f)(2). 10
7
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FAQ for PPP Borrowers and Lenders, at 29,
https://www.sba.gov/document/support-faq-ppp-borrowers-lenders.
8
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FAQ for PPP Borrowers and Lenders, at 3,
https://www.sba.gov/document/support-faq-ppp-borrowers-lenders.
9
13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f) (as of Dec. 14, 2020).
10
13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f) (as of Dec. 14, 2020).
7
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Affiliation may arise “based on management:” “Affiliation arises where the CEO or
President of the applicant concern (or other officers, managing members, or partners who control
the management of the concern) also controls the management of one or more other concerns.
Affiliation also arises where a single individual, concern, or entity that controls the Board of
Directors or management of one concern also controls the Board of Directors or management of
one of more other concerns. Affiliation also arises where a single individual, concern or entity
controls the management of the applicant concern through a management agreement.” See 13
C.F.R. § 121.301(f)(3). 11
Affiliation may arise “based on identity of interest:” “Affiliation arises when there is an
identity of interest between close relatives, as defined in 13 CFR 120.10, with identical or
substantially identical business or economic interests (such as where the close relatives operate
concerns in the same or similar industry in the same geographic area). Where SBA determines that
interests should be aggregated, an individual or firm may rebut that determination with evidence
showing that the interests deemed to be one are in fact separate.” See 13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f)(4). 12
Affiliation may arise “based on franchise and license agreements:” “The restraints imposed
on a franchisee or licensee by its franchise or license agreement generally will not be considered
in determining whether the franchisor or licensor is affiliated with an applicant franchisee or
licensee provided the applicant franchisee or licensee has the right to profit from its efforts and
bears the risk of loss commensurate with ownership. SBA will only consider the franchise or
license agreements of the applicant concern.” See 13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f)(5). 13
11
13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f) (as of Dec. 14, 2020).
12
13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f) (as of Dec. 14, 2020).
13
13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f) (as of Dec. 14, 2020).
8
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37. The SBA required borrowers to submit a Borrower Application Form (SBA Form
2483-SD) to a federally insured bank or similar credit institution, which would process the loan
application and fund the loan.
38. The SBA Form 2483-SD required the borrower to state the “Number of Employees
(including affiliates, if applicable).”
39. The SBA Form 2483-SD then required the applicant’s authorized representative to
certify eligibility by signing a statement that “[t]he Applicant, together with its affiliates (if
applicable) . . . employs no more than 300 employees.”
40. The SBA Form 2483-SD also required the applicant’s authorized representative to
initial to “certify that the information provided in this application . . . is true and accurate,” and to
acknowledge “that knowingly making a false statement to obtain a guaranteed loan from SBA is
punishable under the law, including under 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 3571 by imprisonment of not more
than five years and/or a fine of up to $250,000.”
41. The SBA guaranteed 100% of the outstanding balance of Defendant’s Second Draw
PPP loan. The guarantee was backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. 15 U.S.C.
636(a)(2)(F).
VII. DEFENDANT FALSELY CERTIFIED TO THE SBA ITS COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECOND
DRAW PPP LOAN SIZE REQUIREMENTS
A. Group Voyagers, Inc. (“Group Voyagers”)
1. Background
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42. Upon information and belief, Defendant Group Voyagers, Inc. (“Group Voyagers”)
is a corporation registered in New York 14 and headquartered at 4695 South Monaco Street, Suite
200, Denver, CO 80237. 15
43. Group Voyagers can be validly served with process at 4695 South Monaco Street,
Suite 200, Denver, CO 80237. 16
44. Group Voyagers is a tour operator with more than 30 tourism and aviation
businesses around the world that is serviced by more than 5,000 professionals. 17 Group Voyagers
is also known as “Cosmos,” “Globus,” “Cosmos Tourama,” “Globus-Gateway,” and “Cosmos of
London.” 18
45. Group Voyagers’ affiliates include: Tourama Voyages International S.A.; Cosmos
Tours Limited (United Kingdom); Cosmos Transport Services Limited (United Kingdom);
Romitalia Turisco SRL (Italy); Cosmos Travel & Tourism (Lebanon); Tourama Tourism Seyahat
Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (Turkey); Korea Cosmos Tour (South Korea); Cosmos Tour SDN.
BHD. (Malaysia); Cosmos Tour and Travels (India); and Guardianes del Cosmos Sociedad
Comercial de Responsabilidad Limitada (Peru).
46. Tourama Voyages International S.A. is a corporation registered in Luxembourg and
headquartered at Boulevard de la Foire 2 Luxembourg, 1528 Luxembourg. 19 Tourama Voyages
14
Colorado, Division of Corporations, Group Voyagers, Inc.,
https://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/BusinessEntityCriteriaExt.do (for ID No. 159350).
15
Colorado, Division of Corporations, Group Voyagers, Inc.,
https://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/BusinessEntityCriteriaExt.do (for ID No. 159350).
16
Colorado, Division of Corporations, Group Voyagers, Inc.,
https://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/BusinessEntityCriteriaExt.do (for ID No. 159350).
17
Globus, About Us, https://www.globusandcosmos.com/unitedstates.html.
18
Colorado, Division of Corporations, Group Voyagers, Inc., Entity Assumed Name History,
https://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/BusinessEntityCriteriaExt.do (for ID No. 159350).
19
D&B Hoovers, Tourama Voyages International S.A., https://app.avention.com/company/c017190c-f268-3cf6-
8694-b787c8db7680#report/company_summary.
10
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International S.A. is the parent company of Cosmos Tours Limited, Cosmos Transport Services
Limited, and Romitalia Turisco SRL. 20
47. Cosmos Tours Limited is a corporation registered in the United Kingdom and
headquartered at Avalon House 72, Lower Mortlake Road, Richmond, TW9 2JY United
Kingdom. 21
48. Cosmos Transport Services Limited is a corporation registered in the United
Kingdom and headquartered at Avalon House, 72 Lower Mortlake Road, Richmond, TW9 2JY
United Kingdom. 22
49. Romitalia Turisco SRL is a corporation registered in Italy and headquartered at Via
Properzio 5 Roma, Roma, 00193 Italy. 23
50. Cosmos Travel & Tourism is a corporation registered in Lebanon and
headquartered at Mazraa Beirut, Lebanon. 24
51. Tourama Tourism Seyahat Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi is a corporation registered in
Turkey and headquartered at Golden Plaza E Blok, No:33-1 Sahrayicedit MahallesiHalk Sokak,
Kadikoy, Istanbul (Anatolia), 34734 Turkey. 25
52. Korea Cosmos Tour is a corporation registered in South Korea and headquartered
at 127 Madeul-ro, Nowon-gu Seoul, Seoul, 01909 Republic of Korea. 26
20
D&B Hoovers, Tourama Voyages International S.A., Corporate Linkage,
https://app.avention.com/company/c017190c-f268-3cf6-8694-b787c8db7680#report/company_corporate_family.
21
D&B Hoovers, Cosmos Tours Limited, https://app.avention.com/company/eab965b3-25eb-3d3f-81d8-
1a2320e010ef#report/company_summary.
22
D&B Hoovers, Cosmos Transport Services Limited, https://app.avention.com/company/4b93c921-06bb-3081-
beeb-d7085fedb96f#report/company_summary.
23
D&B Hoovers, Romitalia Turismo SRL, https://app.avention.com/company/0c23d817-7308-3111-bfc8-
f443c3bb179e#report/company_summary.
24
D&B Hoovers, Cosmos Travel & Tourism, https://app.avention.com/company/714cdc36-44e6-32da-b02d-
f68d459f466e#report/company_summary.
25
D&B Hoovers, Tourama Tourism Seyahat Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi,
https://app.avention.com/company/a459de36-7df8-3441-b4b0-700ee0554c12#report/company_summary.
26
D&B Hoovers, Korea Cosmos Tour, https://app.avention.com/company/cea558e6-d9e0-3133-b4df-
2249999e767f#report/company_summary.
11
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53. Cosmos Tour SDN. BHD. is a corporation registered in Malaysia and
headquartered at Rm 3 Flr 309-K Perak Rd Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, 10150 Malaysia. 27
54. Cosmos Tour and Travels is a corporation registered in India and headquartered at
19 Civil Line, 19, Civil Line, Roorkee Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 247667 India. 28
55. Guardianes del Cosmos Sociedad Comercial de Responsabilidad Limitada is a
corporation registered in Peru and headquartered at Cal. Gonzales Prada Urb. Magisterial
Umacollo No. 108 Arequipa, Arequipa, 54 Peru. 29
56. On information and belief, the Group Voyagers affiliates named in the foregoing
paragraphs qualify as “affiliates” for purposes of the PPP Loan program under one or more of the
alternative definitions provided in 13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f).
2. False Statement to Obtain Second Draw PPP Loan
57. In 2020, Group Voyagers submitted its Borrower Application form to apply for a
First Draw PPP loan in the amount of $7,431,100.00.
58. On or about July 26, 2021, the U.S. government forgave 100% of Group Voyagers’
First Draw PPP Loan, including interest, in the amount of $7,523,988.75.
59. In 2021, Group Voyagers applied for a Second Draw PPP loan.
60. Group Voyagers submitted its Borrower Application form, SBA Form 2483-SD, to
BOKF, National Association, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
61. On its Form 2483-SD, Group Voyagers listed its address as 5301 S Federal Cir,
Littleton, CO 80123-2980.
27
D&B Hoovers, Cosmos Tour SDN. BHD., https://app.avention.com/company/13d81fd2-15bd-35b3-b43f-
ba0c136bb20c#report/company_summary.
28
D&B Hoovers, Cosmos Tour and Travels, https://app.avention.com/company/2c76bccc-f554-3516-9127-
23dca3e386bb#report/company_summary.
29
Guardianes del Cosmos Sociedad Comercial de Responsabilidad Limitada,
https://app.avention.com/company/e8b38ac4-7723-39da-a0fc-fe97c267a9c5#report/company_summary.
12
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62. On its SBA Form 2483-SD, Group Voyagers represented that it and its affiliates
had 296 employees—narrowly under the 300-employee limit needed to be eligible to apply.
63. Group Voyagers’ SBA Form 2483-SD’s representation regarding the total number
of its and its affiliates’ employees was false. Group Voyagers and its affiliates had far more than
300 employees in each of 2019, 2020 and 2021.
64. Group Voyagers deliberately ignored the fact that the total number of its and its
affiliates’ employees exceeded the 300-employee limit for obtaining a Second Draw PPP loan.
Group Voyagers signed its false SBA Form 2483-SD with knowledge of, or reckless disregard for,
the truth.
65. On or about March 26, 2021, Group Voyagers was approved for a Second Draw
PPP loan in the amount of $2,000,000.00 by lender BOKF.
66. The U.S. government paid lender BOKF a lender’s processing fee of 1% of the
$2,000,000.00 loan, in the amount of $20,000.00. 30
67. On or about June 3, 2022, the U.S. government forgave 100% of Group Voyagers’
Second Draw PPP Loan, including interest, in the amount of $2,023,833.33.
3. Evidence of More Than 300 Employees
68. On its Borrower Application form to apply for a First Draw PPP loan, submitted in
2020, Group Voyagers represented that it and its affiliates had 380 employees—under the 500-
employee limit for the First Draw PPP loan but greater than the 300-employee limit for the Second
Draw PPP loan.
69. Group Voyagers maintained a 401(k) retirement plan for its employees in each of
2019, 2020 and 2021 (the “Group Voyagers Employee Benefits Plan”).
30
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Information Sheet: Lenders,
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP%20Lender%20Information%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf.
13
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70. The Group Voyagers Employee Benefits Plan was a “single employer” plan,
meaning that it provided pension benefits solely to the employees of one employer. 31 That
employer was Group Voyagers. 32
71. In 2019, 2020, and 2021 the Group Voyagers Employee Benefits Plan had the
following legal name: Group Voyagers, Inc. Flexibenefit Plan.
72. Each year, the Group Voyagers Employee Benefits Plan was required to file a Form
5500 with the U.S. Department of Labor. That form required the Group Voyagers Employee
Benefits Plan to state the “number of active participants” at the beginning and end of the plan year.
Form 5500 instructed Group Voyagers that “active participants” are “individuals who are currently
in employment covered by the plan and who are earning or retaining credited service under the
plan.” 33
73. In 2019, the Group Voyagers Employee Benefits Plan reported 426 active
participants at the start and 397 active participants at the end of the year. 34
74. In 2020, the Group Voyagers Employee Benefits Plan reported 494 active
participants at the start and 280 active participants at the end of the year. 35
75. In 2021, the Group Voyagers Employee Benefits Plan reported 280 active
participants at the start and 296 active participants at the end of the year. 36
31
The plan’s Forms 5500 for 2019, 2020, and 2021 all check the box in section A attesting that it was “a single-
employer plan.”
32
The plan’s Forms 5500 for 2019, 2020, and 2021 all list the “employer” as “Group Voyagers, Inc.” All three
years’ Forms 5500 also give the same Employer Identification Number. The address is listed as 5301 S Federal
Cir, Littleton, CO 80123-2980.
33
Instructions for Form 5500 (2021).
34
Form 5500, Group Voyagers (2019).
35
Form 5500, Group Voyagers (2020).
36
Form 5500, Group Voyagers (2021).
14
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76. Upon information and belief, the numbers of “active participants” listed in Group
Voyagers’ Forms 5500 were significantly less than Group Voyagers’ true numbers of domestic
and foreign employees.
77. The number of “active participants” reported in the Group Voyagers Employee
Benefits Plan excluded multiple categories of employees. Upon information and belief, foreign
employees are typically not eligible to participate in U.S. 401(k) plans under the terms of those
plans.
78. Upon information and belief, the number of “active participants” reported in the
Group Voyagers Employee Benefits Plan excluded the total number of employees of Group
Voyagers’ foreign affiliates.
79. In its SBA Form 2483-SD, a company must include “the employees of its domestic
and foreign affiliates” in calculating its number of employees. See 13 C.F.R. § 121.106(b)(1).
80. Other databases also contradict the representation that Group Voyagers made in its
SBA Form 2483-SD that it and its affiliates only had 296 employees. For instance, as of April 8,
2024, Group Voyagers alone was reported as having 403 employees on ZoomInfo 37 and 432
employees on Datanyze. 38 D&B Hoovers reports that Group Voyagers and its affiliates had a total
of 642 employees across its company (295 employees) and its affiliates Tourama Voyages
International S.A. (175 employees), Cosmos Travel & Tourism (Lebanon) (60 employees),
Tourama Tourism Seyahat Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (Turkey) (48 employees), Korea Cosmos
Tour (South Korea) (2 employees), Cosmos Tour SDN. BHD. (Malaysia) (17 employees), Cosmos
37
ZoomInfo, Group Voyagers, https://www.zoominfo.com/c/group-voyagers-inc/51351315.
38
Datanyze, Group Voyagers, https://www.datanyze.com/companies/globus/115491817.
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Tour and Travels (India) (15 employees), and Guardianes del Cosmos Sociedad Comercial de
Responsabilidad Limitada (Peru) (30 employees). 39
81. Most strikingly, Group Voyagers itself represents that as of 2010, it is “serviced by
more than 5,000 professionals.” 40
82. On information and belief, Group Voyagers’ payroll records from 2019, 2020, and
2021 will confirm what Group Voyagers always knew—that it and its affiliates collectively
employed well over 300 employees throughout the time period 2019–2021.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
Submitting False Claims for Payment
31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(A)
83. Relator repeats, realleges, and incorporates the allegations set forth in the
paragraphs above as though fully set forth herein.
84. Defendant violated 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(A) by knowingly presenting and/or
causing to be presented to the lender a claim for approval of a Second Draw PPP loan.
85. Defendant’s knowingly false claim on its SBA Form 2483-SD was material to the
lender’s decision to issue the Second Draw PPP loan and was material to the SBA’s decision to
forgive that loan and repay the lender.
86. But for Defendant’s knowingly false claim, the lender would not have issued the
loan and the SBA would not have forgiven it.
87. The Second Draw PPP loan that Defendant obtained was money that was intended
by the government to be spent or used to advance the government’s program and interest in
39
D&B Hoovers (last visited Apr. 21, 2024); see also id. (explaining that D&B Hoover’s reported count of “actual
employees” is “[t]he sum of individuals employed at a parent or headquarter location and all locations that roll up
into it, or attributed to an organization which is a single location, as reported on an official financial statement or
reported by a government institution”).
40
Globus, About Us, https://www.globusandcosmos.com/unitedstates.html.
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assisting qualified and eligible small businesses to survive the COVID-19 epidemic and to
continue to employ their workers.
88. The Second Draw PPP loan that Defendant obtained was money that the
government effectively and in practice provided to the lender, by means of the government’s 100%
guarantee to the lender of repayment by the government in the case of default by the borrower.
89. The government later reimbursed the lender 100% of the amount of Defendant’s
Second Draw PPP loan, with interest.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
Creating a False Record or Statement Material to a False Claim
31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(B)
90. Relator repeats, realleges, and incorporates the allegations set forth in the
paragraphs above as though fully set forth herein.
91. Defendant violated 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(B) by knowingly making or causing to
be made a false record and statement—namely, its SBA Form 2483-SD and its included
certifications—to support a false claim submitted to the lender for approval of Second Draw PPP
loan.
92. Defendant’s knowingly false record and statement were material to the lender’s
decision to issue the Second Draw PPP loan and to the SBA’s decision to forgive that loan and
repay the lender.
93. But for Defendant’s knowingly false record and statement, the lender would not
have issued the loan and the SBA would not have forgiven it.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Relator requests judgment against Defendant for: (i) three times the
amount of damages that the United States has sustained (including the full amount of the forgiven
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Second Draw PPP loan and interest thereon, plus all processing fees paid by the government); (ii)
the maximum civil penalties allowed by law; (iii) an award to Relator for the maximum allowed
under 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d); (iv) an award of attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses; (v) interest as
provided by law; and (vi) any other relief that this Court deems appropriate.
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Relator hereby demands a
trial by jury.
Date: June 14, 2024 Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Paul H. Schwartz____________________
Paul H. Schwartz
SHOEMAKER GHISELLI + SCHWARTZ LLC
1811 Pearl Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302
Telephone: (303) 530-3452
pschwartz@sgslitigation.com
Stephen Shackelford
Steven M. Shepard (D. Colo. Bar application
pending)
Alicia Lai (D. Colo. Bar application pending)
SUSMAN GODFREY L.L.P.
One Manhattan West, 50th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 336-8330
sshackelford@susmangodfrey.com
sshepard@susmangodfrey.com
alai@susmangodfrey.com
Attorneys for Plaintiff Verity Investigations, LLC
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