Federal consultant sentenced to 12 months for fraudulent billing

Federal consultant Andrew McDermott was sentenced to a 12-month conditional sentence on Oct. 21, 2026, after an investigation into fraudulent billing of the federal government, the RCMP said in an Ottawa release. He pleaded guilty to fraud under $5,000 and paid $11,079 in restitution.

The RCMP said it charged McDermott in April 2026. Public Services and Procurement Canada had begun investigating the consultant in the summer of 2021.

According to the release, McDermott worked at the same time on multiple Shared Services Canada contracts held by different private-sector contractors, reporting to multiple technical authorities. Evidence indicated that fraudulent timesheets led to overbilling between May 2020 and June 2022, police said.

Public Services and Procurement Canada referred the case to the RCMP for a possible criminal investigation. The force’s Sensitive and International Investigations Unit opened an investigation, obtaining statements from prime contractors and examining timesheets to confirm overbilling on separate contracts.

The RCMP also said McDermott collected HST but failed to remit it to the Canada Revenue Agency. He also pleaded guilty to an Excise Tax Act charge brought by the agency.

Reporting information

People with information about illegal or illicit activity in federal contracting can report it anonymously to the Federal Contracting Fraud Tip Line, or contact the Special Investigations and Disclosure Directorate directly at spac.dgsdivulgationinterne-dobinternaldisclosure.pspc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.