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DOJ charges 371 for $836M COVID-19 fraud.

The Department‍ of Justice Launches New COVID-19 Fraud Strike Forces

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched two new COVID-19 fraud⁤ strike ⁤forces, the department said Wednesday in⁢ announcing ​the filing of criminal charges against‍ 371‌ people​ in relation to the theft‌ of more than $836 million in pandemic relief funds.

“The‌ Justice Department has now seized over $1.4 billion in ‍COVID-19 relief funds‌ that⁤ criminals had stolen, and charged over 3,000 defendants with crimes in federal districts across⁣ the country,” Attorney‍ General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

“This latest action, involving over 300 defendants and over $830 million in alleged COVID-19 ‍fraud, should⁢ send a clear message: The ‍COVID-19 public health emergency​ may have ended, but the Justice Department’s work to identify and prosecute those who stole pandemic relief funds is far from over,” he ​added.

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The charges are the result of a⁢ COVID-19 fraud enforcement sweep that took place nationwide from ⁢May through the end of July.

According to the DOJ, of the 371 ⁢defendants charged, 119 either pleaded guilty or‌ were convicted at⁣ trial, ⁣and more than $57 ​million in court-ordered restitution was imposed.

The sweep involved a ⁢total ⁤of 718 law enforcement actions, ‌including 117 civil matters yielding more⁢ than⁤ $10.4 million in judgments.

Many cases⁢ involved ⁣charges related to pandemic unemployment insurance benefit fraud and fraud against the⁢ Small Business Administration’s two ‌largest pandemic⁣ programs: ‌the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

Together,‍ prosecutors and law enforcement ‌worked to secure the forfeiture of more than $231.4 million.

Announcing the results at ⁤a roundtable meeting of⁢ senior ‌DOJ, ‌law​ enforcement, and Office of the Inspector General officials, Deputy‍ Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the department⁢ was also launching two ⁣new strike forces to assist in its ongoing crackdown on pandemic-related fraud.

“The law​ enforcement actions announced today reflect​ the Justice​ Department’s ⁣focus—working ⁢with our⁤ law enforcement partners ​nationwide—on bringing to ‌justice those who stole from American businesses and families at a time of national⁤ emergency,” Ms.⁣ Monaco said. “The two new strike forces​ launched today ‍will increase our⁤ reach as we continue to pursue​ fraudsters and⁣ recover taxpayer funds, no matter how long it takes.”

According to the Associated Press, it is possible that more ⁢than $280 billion in pandemic relief funds‍ was stolen⁣ by fraudsters,‌ while another $123 billion ‍was wasted‍ or misspent.

The attorney general established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement ‍Task‌ Force ⁣in May 2021 to help prevent, investigate, and prosecute cases of COVID-19 fraud. In September ⁢2022, the DOJ added to those efforts by launching three strike force teams at the U.S. attorney’s offices ​in the‍ Eastern and Central Districts ‍of California, the Southern District of ​Florida, and the District of Maryland.

The new strike forces will operate out of the U.S.


Read More From Original Article Here: 371 Charged for COVID-19 Fraud Totaling $836 Million: DOJ

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