Reports

Two businessmen have been charged in the District of Rhode Island with allegedly filing bank loan applications fraudulently seeking more than a half-million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia today announced that the Harrison County received $58,008 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Department of Justice and federal prosecutors remain vigilant in investigating and prosecuting landlords and property managers who sexually harass tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic, warned U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox.

The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PAC), the overarching judicial branch government agency charged with assisting State of Georgia prosecuting attorneys in their efforts against criminal activity, has joined forces with the Governor’s Office, U.S. Attorneys and Georgia’s Attorney General as the newest member of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fraud Task Force.

Maryland U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur is asking anyone who has witnessed or experienced sexual harassment by a landlord, property manager, maintenance worker, or anyone with control over housing to report that conduct to the Department of Justice. The COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted the ability of many people to pay rent on time and has increased housing insecurity. The Department of Justice has heard reports of housing providers trying to exploit the crisis to sexually harass tenants. Sexual harassment in housing is illegal, and the Department of Justice stands ready to investigate such...

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman sent a letter to Northern Ohio housing advocacy groups asking anyone who has witnessed or experienced sexual harassment by a landlord, property manager, maintenance worker, or anyone with control over housing to report that conduct to the Department of Justice.

The Department of Justice today filed a Statement of Interest in a Virginia federal court concerning the First Amendment’s freedom of religion in support of Lighthouse Fellowship Church (Lighthouse), a congregation in Chincoteague Island, Virginia, that serves, among others, recovering drug addicts and former prostitutes.

The United States Attorney’s Offices of the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Small Business Administration are asking small business owners to be aware of possible scams relating to the CARES Act.

SAN FRANCISCO – Today U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson announced that the Department of Justice has devoted law enforcement resources to address housing-related sexual harassment resulting from the current COVID-19 crisis. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in investigating and prosecuting wrongdoing related to the pandemic, including sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing.

Tacoma - A former Port Angeles, Washington, naturopathic physician was charged today with a federal felony related to his attempts to promote a misbranded drug as a prevention for COVID-19, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.

Utah Court Orders Halt To Sale Of Silver Product Fraudulently Touted As Covid-19 Cure

SAN JUAN, P.R. – El Procurador General de los Estados Unidos William P. Barr ordenó a todas las Oficinas de los Fiscales Federales de los Estados Unidos a investigar toda querella de acoso sexual relacionada con vivienda como resultado de la actual pandemia COVID-19, anunció W. Stephen Muldrow, Fiscal Federal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Puerto Rico.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma reminds everyone that even as we begin moving toward resumption of normal lives, fraudsters will continue their schemes to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic. The best defense is to remain vigilant knowing there are a number of methods criminals will try to profit at your expense. The United States Attorneys for the Eastern, Western and Northern Districts are partnering with the Oklahoma Attorney General to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic...

“A wave of scammers and thieves are working overtime during the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud the American public of their Economic Impact Payments,” warned U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “I urge the public to report any suspicious, fraudulent, or criminal activity related to the Coronavirus to law enforcement authorities.”

SAN FRANCISCO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California unsealed charges today in a criminal complaint charging Carmelita Barela and Rosetta Shabazz with committing robbery affecting interstate commerce in connection with a scheme to steal merchandise from a Walgreens while claiming to have COVID-19, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- U.S. Attorney John C. Milhiser and Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, Kathy A. Enstrom, are reminding the public to beware of possible scams related to economic impact payments made during the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing efforts to defraud the public.

Federal authorities announced today that an ongoing cooperative effort between law enforcement and a number of private-sector companies, including multiple internet domain providers and registrars, has disrupted hundreds of internet domains used to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to commit fraud and other crimes.

Maryland U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington Field Office are again warning taxpayers to be alert to phishing scams relating to COVID-19 economic impact payments that are already being seen. The community must remain on guard against scammers who are striving to steal personal information and money.

SAN JUAN, P.R. – El Fiscal Federal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow y el Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF, por sus siglas en inglés) anunciaron hoy el lanzamiento de una iniciativa de toma de pruebas COVID-19 a todos los residentes y empleados en los hogares y centros de cuido prolongado para adultos mayores de Puerto Rico. Esta iniciativa multi-agencial y multisectorial cubrirá más de 1,000 instalaciones, 28,000 residentes y 9,000 empleados y cuidadores durante las próximas tres semanas. Este esfuerzo ha sido posible con el apoyo del Departamento de Salud...

The Department of Justice announced today that it will not challenge collaborative efforts of AmerisourceBergen Corporation (AmerisourceBergen) to identify global supply opportunities, ensure product quality, and facilitate product distribution of medications and other healthcare supplies to treat COVID-19 patients.

SAN JUAN, P.R. – Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow and the Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF) announced today the launch of an island-wide COVID-19 testing initiative for all residents and employees in Puerto Rico’s long-term care facilities. This multi-agency, multisectoral initiative will cover over 1,000 facilities, 28,000 residents, and 9,000 employees and caregivers during the next three weeks. This effort has been possible with the support of the P.R. Department of Health, the P.R. Governor’s Medical Task Force, the P.R. Family Affairs Department, the P.R. Department of Justice’s...

Prosecutors from the four United States Attorney’s Offices in California, along with representatives from the FBI, will be participating in a telephonic town hall being coordinated by AARP to provide information to California residents to help them identify and avoid fraudulent schemes related to Coronavirus and COVID-19.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas has obtained a temporary restraining order preventing a DFW chiropractor from touting sham treatments for COVID-19.

Coronavirus Fraud Task Force Committed to Protecting U.S. Postal Service Delivery of Economic Impact Payments

$1,648,580 in federal grant dollars is now available to multiple communities across the Middle District of Georgia in response to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.