The United States will begin aggressively targeting COVID-19 fraud, with the government appointing a prosecutor tasked with pursuing misconduct related to coronavirus relief funds.
The Justice Department announced Kevin Chambers would take the reins as the director for COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement and oversee strike teams tasked with hunting down fraudsters who illegally procured pandemic relief funds."Our Strike Teams will enhance the department’s existing efforts and will include analysts and data scientists to review data, agents to investigate the cases, and prosecutors and trial attorneys to bring charges and try the cases," Chambers said.
As of Thursday, the Justice Department says it has unearthed over $8 billion in pandemic relief fraud and is pursuing cases against the alleged perpetrators in court. Congress authorized over $5 trillion in funding to ease the economic fallout from the pandemic. This included loans for businesses, COVID-19 healthcare fraud, bolstered unemployment insurance, and more.
The Justice Department has been investigating relief fraud since the relief money began rolling out. In 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland formed the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, and President Joe Biden highlighted his administration's efforts to crack down on pandemic relief fraud. "In my administration, the watchdogs have been welcomed back. We’re going after the criminals who stole billions in relief money meant for small businesses and millions of Americans. And tonight, I’m announcing that the Justice Department will name a chief prosecutor for pandemic fraud," he said during his State of the Union address.Estimates of how much fraud transpired during the pandemic vary.
日本 最新ニュース, 日本 見出し
Similar News:他のニュース ソースから収集した、これに似たニュース記事を読むこともできます。
Covid-19 news: Drug-resistant mutation linked to a covid treatmentThe latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic
続きを読む »
Health Workers Plan for Years of Covid-19 Vaccine Outreach to Black PeopleCommunity health workers are redoubling their efforts to sustain Covid-19 vaccine coverage among Black people, saying that gaps remain between willingness to get the shots and the ability of some people to find them conveniently.
続きを読む »
Indiana reports 77 more COVID-19 deaths, 437 positive cases on WednesdayOn Wednesday, the Indiana Department of Health reported 77 additional COVID-19 deaths and 437 more positive cases.
続きを読む »
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed after two years?Two years after the pandemic began, more countries are shifting toward a return to normal and learning to live with the virus
続きを読む »
San Francisco and Berkeley dropping proof of COVID-19 vaccine requirement for some businessesPeople are no longer required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result upon entering certain indoor businesses in San Francisco starting Friday, health officials announced.
続きを読む »