At least $1.4B in stolen COVID relief funds seized, Department of Justice says

WASHINGTON (TND) — The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday announced its COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force (CFETF) seized more than $1.4 billion worth of stolen COVID relief funds during the last three years.

In a news release, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said at least 3,500 defendants were charged with federal crimes, which toteld more than $2 billion. He also said more than 400 civil lawsuits were filed, which resulted in court judgements and settlements of over $100 million -- and at least $1.4 billion seized or forfeited.

The information was part of a 33-page report that highlighted the "widespread fraud."

Our work is not over," Garland said. "We will continue our efforts to investigate and prosecute pandemic relief fraud and to recover the assets that have been stolen from American taxpayers.”

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco shared similar sentiments.

The time is now to ensure law enforcement has what it needs to finish the job," Monaco said. "The statute of limitations must be extended and the necessary funding and data analytic tools secured for our prosecutors to recover hundreds of millions of dollars more in fraud proceeds, bring remaining offenders to justice, and disrupt criminal networks that continue to victimize our citizens."

Michael C. Galdo, who serves as the director of the Task Force, said there are still ongoing investigations into hundreds of cases involving identity thieves, transnational fraud and money laundering networks, large-dollar individual fraudsters, and businesses that helped facilitate the crimes.

"CFETF member agencies have improved their data analytics capabilities and are using these new skills to investigate fraud more efficiently and effectively," Galdo said.

The Task Force was established in 2021 to fight and prevent pandemic-related fraud.