US DOJ taps local prosecutors to back new national fraud unit

The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division has ordered all U.S. attorney’s offices to designate a local prosecutor to serve with the Washington-based Fraud Division, in a bid to coordinate a nationwide anti-fraud effort. Starting July 1, the assigned AUSAs should not take on new cases without fraud-division approval, as DOJ looks to boost staffing and effectiveness—potentially using temporary local prosecutors and cross-agency referrals to tackle fraud in areas like public benefits and health care.