Federal Grand Jury In Texas Indicts 2 On Wage Fixing

A federal grand jury in Sherman returned a superseding indictment charging two Texas men with engaging in wage fixing and obstructing a federal investigation, announced Acting US Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei on Monday, April 19.

Neeraj Jindal, the former owner of a Texas-based therapist staffing company, and John Rodgers, a physical therapist and the clinical director of Jindal’s company, are charged with conspiring to fix prices, in violation of the Sherman Act, and with conspiring to obstruct a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation.  Both defendants are also charged with obstruction of an FTC investigation.

According to the four-count superseding indictment, in 2017, Jindal, Rodgers, and their co-conspirators agreed to pay lower rates to certain physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in North Texas.  Their company, in turn, paid the agreed lower rates for several months after entering into the agreement.

Jindal and Rodgers also conspired to obstruct an FTC investigation and to obstruct proceedings occurring before the FTC. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Jindal and Rodgers made false and misleading statements and withheld and concealed information during the FTC’s investigation to determine whether their company or other therapist staffing companies violated the Federal Trade Commission Act.

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