LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury has charged Eduardo Lopez, a healthcare staffing executive, with conspiring to fix the wages of Las Vegas nurses, in violation of the Sherman Act. The indictment was returned on Wednesday, March 15.

Lopez, a resident of Las Vegas and an executive at three home health agencies, oversaw the recruitment and hiring of nurses and other staff. The Department of Justice alleges that Lopez and his co-conspirators, who have not been named, conspired to suppress and remove competition for nurses’ services from 2016 to 2019.

Lopez and the others are accused of fixing the wages of nurses by participating in a series of meetings and communications. “Wage fixing is a crime that deprives workers of hard-earned wages,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division will be vigilant in protecting workers.”

U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada said, “We will investigate and prosecute those who engage in anti-competitive activities.” He also vowed to continue partnering with the Antitrust Division and the FBI to protect the marketplace and workers’ rights to earn fair wages.

If convicted, Lopez faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to twice the money gained from the crime or the loss suffered by the victims. Lopez’s next hearing is scheduled for March 28.

Credits: Fox5Vegas

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