Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section

Jon Hooks, Chief
Kate Rakoczy, Chief, Fraud Unit
Liz Aloi, Chief, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Unit

The Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section (FPCCR) is responsible for investigating and prosecuting:

Cyber Crime – including cryptocurrency scams, cryptocurrency money laundering, computer crime/hacking

Fraud on the Government – tax fraud, health care fraud, embezzlement, procurement fraud, and defrauding government programs like pandemic assistance

Fraud on Private Citizens and Organizations – including confidence schemes, romance scams, mortgage fraud, embezzlement, and securities fraud/insider trading

Public Corruption – including bribery of federal and local officials, kickbacks, false statements, conflicts of interest, campaign finance violations, and other corruption

Civil Rights – including violations of a person’s constitutionally protected rights, such as law enforcement misconduct, excessive force, and sexual misconduct; and hate crimes, that is, acts of violence or threats of violence motivated by bias based on statutorily protected characteristics.

Cyber Crime

FBI Arrests Alabama Man in the January 2024 SEC X Hack that Spiked the Value of Bitcoin

Operator of ‘Bitcoin Fog’ Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Running Notorious Darknet Cryptocurrency Mixer

Bitfinex Hacker Sentenced in Money Laundering Conspiracy Involving Billions in Stolen Cryptocurrency

Ohio Man Sentenced for Stealing Over 712 Bitcoin Subjected to Forfeiture

United States Seizes More than $6 Million in Alleged Proceeds of a Crypto-Confidence Scheme

Indictment Charges Two in $230 Million Cryptocurrency Scam

Fraud on the Government

Former Defense Contractor and his Wife Indicted for Evading U.S. Taxes on Profits from Selling Jet Fuel to U.S. Military

D.C. Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison For Attempting to Steal More than $31 Million in COVID-19 Funds

Three Former Department of Homeland Security Employees Sentenced in Scheme to Defraud the United States

Omomowo – health care fraud sprawling conspiracy

Six Indicted in Scheme to Defraud D.C. Medicaid Program

Fraud on Private Citizens and Organizations

Visiting Brazilian Attorney Sentenced to Prison in Insider Trading

District-Based Financial Services Professional Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge of Insider Trading

Purported Psychic Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Outrageous $4 Million Extortion Scheme

Scheme to Defraud Distressed Homeowners Out of $15 Million Nets Virginia Man 60 Months

Sun/Xue/etc. – widespread multi-million fraud on Apple

Multimillion Dollar Scheme to Defraud Apple Inc. out of 6,000 iPhones Nets Prison Terms for Two Maryland Residents

Maucha – investment fraud, convicted at trial 10+ years sentence

Kenyan Citizen Gets 135-Month Prison Term for Advance Fee and Investment Fraud Scheme in Washington D.C.

Public Corruption

Final Defendant Sentenced in Bribery Scheme Involving District Tax Official

Vincent Forrest – numerous MPD officers and bribe payors convicted of bribery for traffic crash reports

Former MPD Officer Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Scheme that Sold Personal Data of Traffic Crash Victims

Ex-White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro Sentenced to Four Months in Prison on Two Counts of Contempt of Congress

D.C. Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Carrying Out Conspiracy To Impersonate Federal Law Enforcement Officers

Retired FBI Special Agent in Charge Sentenced for Concealing Information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Civil Rights

Former MPD Sergeant Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Fatally Shooting a D.C. Motorist

Two MPD Officers Sentenced for 2020 Murder of Karon Hylton-Brown and Subsequent Coverup

Former D.C. Corrections Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation for Assaulting a Handcuffed Inmate

Final Defendant Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Conspiracy and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Offenses