Federal Prosecutor's Office establishes inter-agency anti-fraud team in Puerto Rico
The federal prosecutor's office launched a task force with the FBI, DEA and other agencies to investigate fraud against government programmes in Puerto Rico.
New inter-agency group to pursue fraud against federal programmes in Puerto Rico
The federal prosecutor's office established a specialised team to identify and prosecute fraud cases in Puerto Rico, according to elnuevodia.com. The body is called the "Inter-Agency Working Group for the Fight Against Fraud in Puerto Rico" and brings together personnel from multiple federal and state agencies.
Federal prosecutor Héctor Ramírez Carbó stated that the objective is "to strengthen efforts to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud against government programmes and United States taxpayers".
The group's first meeting took place last Thursday. At that meeting, four lines of action were defined: establishing a comprehensive approach to investigations and legal proceedings, expanding the exchange of intelligence and data, analysing methods to detect fraud schemes and directing law enforcement resources towards the largest cases.
"Fraud directed against federal government programmes robs taxpayers and deprives intended beneficiaries of essential resources, weakening the impact of programmes designed to serve the public," Ramírez Carbó stated in a written statement.
The prosecutor added that his office, in coordination with federal, state and local partners, will employ "all criminal, civil and administrative tools at its disposal to detect fraud, stop it and hold those responsible accountable".
The group includes representatives from the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Secret Service and the DEA. Also participating are investigators from the Office of the Inspector General of several federal agencies: IRS, Postal Service, SBA, Social Security, Veterans Administration, Army and the departments of Health, Housing, Education, Labour and Agriculture.
From the state agencies, the Department of Justice, Medicaid and the Office of the Inspector General of Puerto Rico have joined.
Source: Google News PR — Crime