Lexington executive to pay $4.5 million to settle fraud claims in federal grant requests

A Lexington woman agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle claims she submitted false information to get federal grants for her medical-device companies and spent some of the money on personal items such as plastic surgery and jewelry.

The judgment is against Vesta Brue, 70, and two companies she heads, LifeTechniques Inc. and Care Team Solutions, court records show.

U.S. Attorney Kerry Harvey’s office announced the settlement Monday.

Brue’s companies received several federal grants between 2005 and 2013 to develop devices such as an electronic pill box and a monitoring system to help weight-loss patients stick to their post-surgery requirements, according to court records.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article88967867.html