U.S. Department
of Justice
Fraud Section
Mission
The Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section investigates and litigates some of the Civil Division’s most significant cases. Working with United States Attorneys, investigative agencies, and whistleblowers, Fraud Section attorneys have recovered more than $75 billion in False Claims Act settlements and judgments since 1986, in addition to billions of dollars in recoveries under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act.
In addition to recovering funds for the public fisc, the Fraud Section advances a number of Departmental priorities, such as combatting the opioid crisis, protecting the integrity of CARES Act relief funds, and investigating COVID-19 related fraud schemes. The Fraud Section houses the Elder Justice Initiative, which coordinates the Department’s efforts to hold accountable nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Fraud Section also spearheads the use of data analytics within the Department to identify healthcare and other fraud schemes.
Examples of cases brought by the Fraud Section include those alleging pharmaceutical manufacturers driving up opioid use by paying kickbacks to prescribers; defense contractors selling defective goods and services to the military; hospitals and other health care providers subjecting Medicare and Medicaid patients to unreasonable and unnecessary care to drive up costs; banks and financial institutions manufacturing and selling billions of dollars of fraudulent mortgage-backed securities that contributed to the Financial Crisis; mortgage lenders making false representations to gain access to federal loan guarantee programs; and unscrupulous contractors exploiting national disasters to maximize profit. Some priority areas of enforcement for the Branch include:
We are committed to combating abuse, neglect, and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults and fighting for justice through a robust and holistic response.