Oregon Government Fraud Task Force Continues Efforts To Identify And Prosecute Fraud

PORTLAND, Ore. - Federal prosecutors and investigators in Oregon are continuing a coordinated effort to identify and prosecute fraud involving government benefits, loans, grants, and other taxpayer-funded programs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced Wednesday.

Members of the Government Fraud Task Force met Monday, October 5, at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland. The meeting focused on sharing information, improving methods for detecting fraud, and directing investigators toward the most significant cases.

The task force brings together the U.S. Attorney’s Office, federal law enforcement agencies, and inspectors general responsible for investigating misuse of government funds.

“Fraud against government programs is theft from the American taxpayer,” U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford said.

According to the announcement, participating agencies are working to compare government databases and benefit records, identify suspicious financial activity, and use data analysis to flag unusual billing, benefit payments, grants, and contracting activity.

The task force also plans to rank investigative leads and referrals so agencies can focus their resources on the strongest cases. Agencies may share investigative resources to pursue leads where staffing is limited, and annual reviews will assess the task force’s work and potential improvements.

Its focus includes:

• Health care fraud.
• Government benefits fraud.
• Small Business Administration loan fraud.
• Social Security fraud.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fraud.
• Trade fraud.
• Student aid fraud.

Participating agencies include the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Small Business Administration, the Social Security Administration, and representatives from the departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs. Medicaid Fraud Control Units are also among the participants listed in the release.

Investigators are also reviewing False Claims Act referrals and government claims data, while looking for connections between government beneficiaries and other government and law enforcement records.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the work supports the Department of Justice’s nationwide fraud enforcement initiative and its National Fraud Enforcement Division, which is intended to improve coordination among federal agencies.