U.S. Attorney Frank Appoints Experienced Prosecutor as COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator

PORTLAND, Maine:  U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank today announced that he has appointed an experienced Assistant U.S. Attorney to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of crimes related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Perry, a senior prosecutor in the Portland office, will serve as the COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator, overseeing federal prosecutions of virus scammers.

Attorney General William Barr has directed all U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the detection, investigation and prosecution of criminal conduct related to the current pandemic. “The pandemic is dangerous enough,” the Attorney General said, “without wrongdoers seeking to profit from public panic and this sort of conduct cannot be tolerated.”

“Criminals are already taking advantage of the anxiety caused by the coronavirus outbreak to peddle fake cures, send phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and install malware on apps designed to track the virus,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “This type of fraudulent activity is appalling. AUSA Perry, one of the most talented and experienced prosecutors in my office, will lead our efforts to stop these fraudsters.”

Individuals who believe they may have been the target of a coronavirus-related fraud scheme can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. More information about coronavirus scams is also available from the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/coronavirus.