Fraud Cases

The Federal Docket

Feds look for fraud in $670-billion small business loan program

As part of the federal government’s efforts to keep the economy going during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress created a $670 billion emergency loan program for small businesses called the Paycheck Protection Program. The DOJ is now announcing that it will scrutinize businesses that apply for and receive this aid, especially large businesses and those applying […]

DOJ Targets Internet Scams Involving COVID-19 Fraud

The Department of Justice issued a press release today announcing that it “has disrupted hundreds of internet domains used to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to commit fraud and other crimes.” The presser notes that the FBI has received thousands of tips related to COVID-19 scams from websites advertising fake vaccines and treatments, fake charity drives, […]

Feds bring first prosecution under Defense Production Act

In an unprecedented move, the federal government has brought its first criminal prosecution under the Defense Production Act, charging Bobby Singh, a business owner in Long Island, with hoarding and price-gouging personal protective equipment. Under the Defense Production Act, the president can issue an executive order recognizing certain products and materials as “scarce materials” and […]

United States v. Lee John Maher (11th Cir. April 2020)

In an appeal of the defendant’s conviction for retaining government property (in the form of federal grants), the Eleventh Circuit rejected the defendant’s statute of limitations argument, holding that retaining government property is a “continuing offense.” Given the definition of “retention,” the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the defendant relinquishes possession of the government property.

Feds Charge Man With Operating Coronavirus Kickback Scheme

March 30, 2020. The Department of Justice announced its latest effort in coronavirus-related prosecutions. The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has charged Erik Santos, a resident of Georgia, with operating a kickback scheme in which he allegedly solicited and received payments in exchange for funneling patients to lab companies for coronavirus testing […]

US Attorney for Middle District of GA Appoints Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator

March 27, 2020. As we see an increase in prosecutions for “coronavirus-related fraud,” it appears that law enforcement’s efforts are becoming more formal. Today, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia announced that he has appointed a federal prosecutor to investigative suspected fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The move comes after […]

Feds Charge California Man With Coronavirus-related Fraud

March 25, 2020. On Wednesday, the FBI arrested a man in California and charged him with federal fraud offenses. The man was allegedly soliciting investments for a fake cure for the coronavirus. To date, there is no cure for those infected with the virus. According to an article on ABC News, the federal government is […]

Feds Begin Targeting “COVID-19 Fraud”

March 24, 2020. On Sunday, the Department of Justice released a press release announcing its first enforcement action to “combat fraud related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.” The federal government filed the action in Austin, TX accusing operators of the website “coronavirusmedicalkit.com” of engaging in wire fraud. The website operators were fraudulently advertising that they […]

Atlanta Feds Charge Dozens in $30 Million Money Laundering Operation

The DOJ announced that it has arrested 24 people for their involvement in a large-scale fraud and money laundering operation involving phishing scams, romance fraud scams, and retirement account scams. The defendants are accused of serving as money launderers for a variety of other individuals who engaged in cyber-enabled fraud. The defendants and their co-conspirators […]

United States v. Rosa Enedia Pazos Cingari, et al. (11th Cir. March 2020)

In a case involving mail fraud and falsifying immigration forms, the Court held that the district court correctly applied the Guidelines for fraud under 2B1.1 rather than for falsifying immigration forms under 2L2.1, explaining that “the heart” of the defendant’s scheme was enriching themselves by cheating undocumented immigrants.

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