Covid-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established

The Department of Justice just announced that U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to enhance enforcement efforts against COVID-19 related fraud.

Cases have included:

• Offers to purchase COVID-19 vaccination cards
• Requiring payment for testing or vaccines.
• PPP loan fraud
• EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loans) fraud
• Unemployment fraud – weekly federal unemployment benefits worth $600 a week. The Justice Department has charged more than 140 people so far for fraud related to the program.
• Identity Fraud – used stolen identities to try to file for benefits illegally
• Purchase and resale of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to hospitals and retailers at a significant profit

“The Department of Justice will use every available federal tool—including criminal, civil, and administrative actions—to combat and prevent COVID-19 related fraud. We look forward to working with our federal government colleagues to bring to justice those who seek to profit unlawfully from the pandemic,” wrote Attorney General Garland in a memo announcing the Task Force.

Conaway & Strickler, PC has handled each type of case delineated above. It is crucial to reach out to us early on in one of these type of investigations. With a task force created, the DOJ and related ent