DOJ’s Fraud Division Announces Unprecedented Fraud Enforcement Actions in Southeast
3 hours ago
The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division announced a series of significant fraud enforcement actions across the Southeastern United States, the product of robust federal-state partnerships with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The charges announced today encompass 17 cases spanning the seven states. These recent cases involve over $350 million in intended losses and include cases involving SNAP benefits, Small Business Administration loans, housing benefits, and tax fraud. From July 4 alone, federal prosecutors charged cases reaching over $90 million loss and implicating 12 named defendants. The Division separately announced the formation of federal-state anti-fraud task forces in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Florida.
The Division additionally announced new federal-state cooperation agreements with this group of states to strengthen ongoing fraud enforcement efforts, following a recent roundtable that brought together 18 U.S. Attorneys Offices, seven State Attorneys General Offices, five federal law enforcement partners, and over 50 state officials.
“Defeating the fraud epidemic in our country requires all-hands-on-deck from our federal and state partners nationwide,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Whether it’s sharing intelligence, data, personnel, or priorities, partnering with state agencies directly strengthens our ability to identify those stealing taxpayer dollars. When federal prosecutors work alongside state agencies to root out fraud, fraudsters lose and the American people win.”
“Working alongside our federal and interstate partners, we are committed to combating fraud at every level. Our collaborative partnerships allowed us to uncover more than $20 million in Medicaid fraud claims during an operation known as Operation Border Wars,” said South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. “My office also recently indicted six individuals accused of defrauding taxpayers and stealing jobs from hardworking South Carolinians by providing counterfeit employment documents to illegal aliens. The rule of law means something in South Carolina, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle these schemes and prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.”
“We appreciate the Trump Administration's commitment to rooting out fraud in government healthcare programs, including the creation of a dedicated state-federal partnership to lead this fight,” said Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. “Thanks to the Administration’s serious commitment to ending waste, fraud, and abuse, we now have the tools and coordination needed to identify bad actors and hold them accountable. Together, we are protecting the integrity of Medicaid and the taxpayer dollars that fund it.”
“With the help of the Trump administration, the states are fighting back against benefits fraud,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murill. “Since taking office, my administration has secured more than 100 convictions and $73 million in court-ordered restitution. Under the leadership of Acting Attorney General Blanche, Director Patel, and Administrator Oz, our partnership is holding criminals accountable and delivering real results for the taxpayers of Louisiana and the nation.”
“President Trump has challenged all of us to step up our efforts to fight fraud and protect American taxpayers from this grift,” said Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Partnerships like this one show that we are bringing everything to the table in this work. In that spirit, with the support of the U.S. Department of Justice, my office is standing up Joint Task Force Vigilance with our two U.S. Attorneys and the FBI to surge resources and personnel to make Mississippi safer, protect Mississippi taxpayers, and restore law and order. This first-of-its-kind task force will bring the full authority of our offices to bear on con artists, grifters, fraudsters, and scammers.”
The Division additionally announced new federal-state cooperation agreements with this group of states to strengthen ongoing fraud enforcement efforts, following a recent roundtable that brought together 18 U.S. Attorneys Offices, seven State Attorneys General Offices, five federal law enforcement partners, and over 50 state officials.
“Defeating the fraud epidemic in our country requires all-hands-on-deck from our federal and state partners nationwide,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Whether it’s sharing intelligence, data, personnel, or priorities, partnering with state agencies directly strengthens our ability to identify those stealing taxpayer dollars. When federal prosecutors work alongside state agencies to root out fraud, fraudsters lose and the American people win.”
“Working alongside our federal and interstate partners, we are committed to combating fraud at every level. Our collaborative partnerships allowed us to uncover more than $20 million in Medicaid fraud claims during an operation known as Operation Border Wars,” said South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. “My office also recently indicted six individuals accused of defrauding taxpayers and stealing jobs from hardworking South Carolinians by providing counterfeit employment documents to illegal aliens. The rule of law means something in South Carolina, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle these schemes and prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.”
“We appreciate the Trump Administration's commitment to rooting out fraud in government healthcare programs, including the creation of a dedicated state-federal partnership to lead this fight,” said Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. “Thanks to the Administration’s serious commitment to ending waste, fraud, and abuse, we now have the tools and coordination needed to identify bad actors and hold them accountable. Together, we are protecting the integrity of Medicaid and the taxpayer dollars that fund it.”
“With the help of the Trump administration, the states are fighting back against benefits fraud,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murill. “Since taking office, my administration has secured more than 100 convictions and $73 million in court-ordered restitution. Under the leadership of Acting Attorney General Blanche, Director Patel, and Administrator Oz, our partnership is holding criminals accountable and delivering real results for the taxpayers of Louisiana and the nation.”
“President Trump has challenged all of us to step up our efforts to fight fraud and protect American taxpayers from this grift,” said Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Partnerships like this one show that we are bringing everything to the table in this work. In that spirit, with the support of the U.S. Department of Justice, my office is standing up Joint Task Force Vigilance with our two U.S. Attorneys and the FBI to surge resources and personnel to make Mississippi safer, protect Mississippi taxpayers, and restore law and order. This first-of-its-kind task force will bring the full authority of our offices to bear on con artists, grifters, fraudsters, and scammers.”
