DOJ orders U.S. attorney's offices to assign 1 prosecutor in each district to staff new fraud division, memo says

Key Points:

• The Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division has directed all U.S. attorneys' offices to assign a local prosecutor to support a newly created Washington-based fraud office, aiming to enhance nationwide fraud prosecution efforts.
• Starting July 1, detailed prosecutors must obtain prior approval from the fraud division before taking on new cases, ensuring focused efforts on fraud-related litigation.
• This staffing move follows the Justice Department's announcement of $300 million in grants for state and local governments to hire prosecutors as special assistant U.S. attorneys, targeting public benefit fraud involving undocumented immigrants.
• The initiative addresses staffing shortages caused by widespread departures and hiring challenges within the Department of Justice, as well as increased caseloads related to immigration habeas petitions.
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that the new fraud division consolidates various offices handling criminal fraud in health care, taxes, benefits, and corporate sectors to improve efficiency.