Eastern District of North Carolina Forms Taxpayer Fraud Task Force TF2 to Combat Fraud Against Government Programs
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced on November 13 the formation of the Taxpayer Fraud Task Force (TF2), a new initiative bringing together federal law enforcement agencies and Offices of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate and prosecute fraud targeting taxpayer-funded programs and government benefits. The announcement was made in Raleigh, North Carolina, following a federal agency leadership meeting at which participating agencies pledged their commitment to combating fraud and safeguarding public resources.
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said government fraud is not a victimless crime, and that every dollar stolen through fraud is diverted from the taxpayers who fund the programs and the citizens who need them. He said TF2 will strengthen existing partnerships among prosecutors, agents, analysts, auditors and inspectors general to identify fraud schemes sooner, investigate them aggressively and hold offenders accountable.
According to the office, TF2 unites the U.S. Attorney's Office, federal investigative agencies and several agency and program inspectors general, drawing on oversight expertise across health care, benefits, housing, disaster relief, agriculture, small business and tax programs, among others. Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina; Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation's Charlotte Field Office; Kelly Parrish, Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS Carolinas Field Office; HHS Inspector General T. March Bell; and VA Inspector General Cheryl L. Mason each expressed support for the effort.
The office said it recently added two federal prosecutors to its Fraud Section and expects to add even more fraud-focused prosecutors in the coming months, significantly increasing its ability to pursue government fraud investigations and prosecutions throughout Eastern North Carolina. TF2 will increase fraud referrals, coordinate investigations and prosecute schemes targeting federal programs and taxpayer-funded benefits, recovering taxpayer dollars whenever possible.
As background, the Department of Justice announced on April 7 the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED), focused on investigating and prosecuting fraud against the American people. The Department's anti-fraud work also supports the whole-of-government Task Force to Eliminate Fraud chaired by Vice President JD Vance, aimed at fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国司法部总部大楼（固定图库联邦核心包）。 / Photo: U.S. Department of Justice headquarters building (fixed federal-core asset-pack image).
