Tag Archives: David J. Johnson

Northern California Real Estate Investor Agrees to Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging at Public Foreclosure Auctions; Investigations Have Yielded 38 Plea Agreements to Date

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A Northern California real estate investor has agreed to plead guilty for his role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced.

Felony charges were filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Oakland against Chuokee “Joseph” Bo of Pleasanton, Calif.

Bo is the 38th individual to plead guilty or agree to plead guilty as a  result of the department’s ongoing antitrust investigations into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California.

According to court documents, Bo conspired with others not to bid against one another, but instead designated a winning bidder to obtain selected properties at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Alameda County, Calif.    Bo was also charged with conspiring to use the mail to carry out a scheme to fraudulently acquire title to selected Alameda County properties sold at public auctions, to make and receive payoffs, and to divert money to co-conspirators that would have otherwise gone to mortgage holders and others by holding second, private auctions open only to members of the conspiracy.  The department said that the selected properties were then awarded to the conspirators who submitted the highest bids in the second, private auctions.  The private auctions often took place at or near the courthouse steps where the public auctions were held.  Bo is charged with participating in the conspiracies beginning as early as August 2009 and continuing until about October 2010.

“Today’s plea agreement is the latest step in the Antitrust Division’s efforts to preserve open competition in local markets,” said Bill Baer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division.  “The division remains committed to prosecuting individuals who subvert the competitive process for their own profit.”

The department said that the primary purpose of the conspiracies was to suppress and restrain competition and to conceal payoffs in order to obtain selected real estate offered at Alameda County public foreclosure auctions at non-competitive prices.  When real estate properties are sold at these auctions, the proceeds are used to pay off the mortgage and other debt attached to the property, with remaining proceeds, if any, paid to the homeowner.  According to court documents, these conspirators paid and received money that otherwise would have gone to pay off the mortgage and other holders of debt secured by the properties, and, in some cases, the defaulting homeowner.

“This is another example of justice being served in preserving the fairness of public real estate foreclosure auctions as well as the FBI’s commitment in investigating those who take advantage of a competitive marketplace,” said David J. Johnson, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Field Office. “Criminal activity like this takes place in our communities and we continue to rely on the public’s help in seeking those who cheat the system.”

A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals.  The maximum fine for the Sherman Act charges may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims if either amount is greater than $1 million.  A count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.  The government can also seek to forfeit the proceeds earned from participating in the conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

Today’s charges are the latest filed by the department in its ongoing investigation into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties, Calif.  These investigations are being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the FBI’s San Francisco Office.  Anyone with information concerning bid rigging or fraud related to public real estate foreclosure auctions should contact the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office at 415-436-6660, visit  www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html or call the FBI tip line at 415-553-7400.

Today’s charges were brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.  The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.  With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it is the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud.  Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants, including more than 2,900 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit  www.StopFraud.gov.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE INVESTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO BID RIGGING AT PUBLIC FORECLOSURE AUCTIONS

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WASHINGTON — A Northern California real estate investor pleaded guilty today for his  role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate  foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice  announced.

Kuo Hsuan “Chuck” Chang, of San Francisco, entered his guilty plea in  U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San  Francisco.  Felony charges were filed  against Chang on Oct. 9, 2013.

Chang is the 37th individual to plead guilty or agree to plead guilty  as a result of the department’s ongoing antitrust investigations  into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in  Northern California.

According to court documents, Chang conspired with others  not to bid against one another, but instead to designate a winning bidder to  obtain selected properties at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San  Francisco County, Calif.  Chang was also  charged with conspiring to use the mail to carry out schemes to fraudulently  acquire title to selected properties sold at public auctions, to make and  receive payoffs, and to divert co-conspirators’ money that would have otherwise  gone to mortgage holders and others.  Chang is charged with participating in these conspiracies beginning  as early as October 2009 and continuing until about November 2010.

“The Antitrust Division will continue to vigorously prosecute  anticompetitive schemes that compromise local markets and cause financial harm  to consumers,” said Bill Baer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the  Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division.   “Collusion at foreclosure auctions harmed both lenders and distressed  homeowners in an already struggling real estate market, and the conspirators  must be held accountable.”

As described in the charging document, the primary purpose of the conspiracies was to suppress and  restrain competition and to conceal payoffs in order to obtain selected real  estate offered at San Francisco County public foreclosure auctions at  non-competitive prices.  When real estate  properties are sold at these auctions, the proceeds are used to pay off the  mortgage and other debt attached to the property, with remaining proceeds, if  any, paid to the homeowner.  According  to court documents, these conspirators paid and received money that otherwise  would have gone to pay off the mortgage and other holders of debt secured by  the properties, and, in some cases, the defaulting homeowner.

“We urge anyone with information regarding fraudulent anticompetitive  practices at foreclosure auctions to contact the FBI or our partners at the  Antitrust Division,” said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge David J.  Johnson.  “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners  and the community to root out and bring to justice those individuals who  undermine the real estate market and victimize legitimate consumers.”

A violation of the  Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million  fine for individuals. The maximum fine for the Sherman Act charges may be increased  to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the  victims if either amount is greater than $1 million. A count of conspiracy to  commit mail fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1  million fine.

The charges against  Chang are the latest filed by the department in its ongoing investigation into  bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San  Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, Calif.  These investigations are being conducted by  the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the FBI’s San Francisco  Office.  Anyone with information  concerning bid rigging or fraud related to public real estate foreclosure  auctions should  contact the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco office at 415-436-6660, visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html or call the FBI tip  line at 415-553-7400.

This case was brought  in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.  The task force was established to wage an  aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute  financial crimes.  With more than 20 federal  agencies, 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it is the  broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies  ever assembled to combat fraud.  Since  its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased  investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and  cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing  discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to  the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations.  Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice  Department has filed nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000  defendants, including more than 2,900 mortgage fraud defendants.  For more information on the task force, please  visit  www.StopFraud.gov

Four Northern California Real Estate Investors Agree to Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging at Public Foreclosure Auctions

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Four Northern California real estate investors have agreed to plead guilty for their role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced.

Felony charges were filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Oakland against Wesley Barta of Oakland, Irma Galvez of Pacheco, Calif., Stan Kahan of Berkeley, Calif., and Joseph Vesce of San Francisco.

To date, as a result of the department’s ongoing antitrust investigations into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, 35 individuals, including Barta, Galvez, Kahan and Vesce, have agreed to plead or have pleaded guilty.

“These conspirators manipulated and suppressed the competitive process through their fraudulent and collusive conduct to the detriment of lenders and distressed homeowners,” said Bill Baer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division will continue to pursue those responsible for these illegal activities.”

According to court documents, for various lengths of time between June 2008 and January 2011, Barta and Vesce conspired with others not to bid against one another, but instead designated a winning bidder to obtain selected properties at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Contra Costa County, Calif.   Barta and Vesce were also charged with a conspiracy to use the mail to carry out a scheme to fraudulently acquire title to selected Contra Costa County properties sold at public auctions, to make and receive payoffs and to divert money to co-conspirators that would have gone to mortgage holders and others by holding second, private auctions open only to members of the conspiracy. The department said that the selected properties were then awarded to the conspirators who submitted the highest bids in the second, private auctions. The private auctions often took place at or near the courthouse steps where the public auctions were held.

The same charges were brought against Galvez and Kahan for their involvement in similar conduct in Alameda County, Calif., from November 2008 through May 2010.

The department said that the primary purpose of the conspiracies was to suppress and restrain competition and to conceal payoffs in order to obtain selected real estate offered at Alameda and Contra Costa County public foreclosure auctions at non-competitive prices. When real estate properties are sold at these auctions, the proceeds are used to pay off the mortgage and other debt attached to the property, with remaining proceeds, if any, paid to the homeowner. According to court documents, these conspirators paid and received money that otherwise would have gone to pay off the mortgage and other holders of debt secured by the properties, and, in some cases, the defaulting homeowner.

“The continued success of our investigation into the bid rigging conspiracies at Northern California public foreclosure auctions is evident in today’s four guilty pleas,” said David J. Johnson, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Field Office. “The FBI will remain focused with the Antitrust Division in holding those accountable for such illegal acts.”

A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals. The maximum fine for a Sherman Act charge may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victim if either amount is greater than $1 million. A count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The government can also seek to forfeit the proceeds earned from participating in the conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

Today’s charges are the latest filed by the department in its ongoing investigation into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties, Calif. These investigations are being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the FBI’s San Francisco Office. Anyone with information concerning bid rigging or fraud related to public real estate foreclosure auctions should contact the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office at 415-436-6660, visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm or call the FBI tip line at 415-553-7400.

Today’s charges were brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,900 mortgage fraud defendants.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE INVESTOR AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO BID RIGGING AT PUBLIC FORECLOSURE AUCTIONS

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A Northern California real estate investor has agreed to plead guilty  for his role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real  estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice  announced.

Felony charges were filed today in the U.S. District Court for the  Northern District of California in San Francisco against Robert Williams of Atherton,  Calif. Williams is the 31st individual to plead guilty or agree to  plead guilty as a result of the department’s ongoing antitrust  investigations into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure  auctions in Northern California.

According to court documents, Williams conspired with  others not to bid against one another, but instead to designate a winning  bidder to obtain selected properties at public real estate foreclosure auctions  in San Mateo County, Calif. Williams was also charged with conspiring to use the mail to  carry out schemes to fraudulently acquire title to selected properties sold at public  auctions, to make and receive payoffs and to divert to co-conspirators money  that would have otherwise gone to mortgage holders and others.

The  department said Williams conspired with others to rig bids and commit mail  fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Mateo County beginning  as early as October 2009 and continuing until about December 2010.

“Collusion at these foreclosure auctions enabled the conspirators to  present the illusion of competition, when they were actually thwarting the  competitive process and profiting at the expense of lenders and distressed homeowners,”  said Bill Baer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of  Justice’s Antitrust Division. “The division remains committed to holding  accountable those who illegally subvert competition at real estate foreclosure  auctions across the country.”

The department said that the primary purpose of the  conspiracies was to suppress and restrain competition and to conceal payoffs in  order to obtain selected real estate offered at San Mateo County public  foreclosure auctions at non-competitive prices. When real estate properties are  sold at these auctions, the proceeds are used to pay off the mortgage and other  debt attached to the property, with remaining proceeds, if any, paid to the  homeowner.

“The legitimacy of an open, public real estate  foreclosure auction is compromised when an individual or group conspires to  commit criminal activity which impacts genuine intentions of good citizens,”  said David J. Johnson, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Field  Office. “We are steadfast in our continued partnership with the Antitrust  Division in bringing those criminally responsible to justice.”

A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of  10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals. The maximum fine for  the Sherman Act charge may be increased to twice the gain derived from the  crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims if either amount is greater  than $1 million. A count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud carries a maximum  sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The government can also  seek to forfeit the proceeds earned from participating in the conspiracy to  commit mail fraud.

The charges today are the latest filed by the department in  its ongoing investigation into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate  foreclosure auctions in San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Costa and Alameda counties,  Calif. These investigations are being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San  Francisco Office and the FBI’s San Francisco office. Anyone with information  concerning bid rigging or fraud related to public real estate foreclosure  auctions should contact the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office at  415-436-6660, visit  www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm, or call the FBI tip  line at 415-553-7400.

Today’s charges were  brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task  Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and  proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than  20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners,  it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory  agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force  has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution  of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal,  state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and  financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial  institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the  Justice Department has filed nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly  15,000 defendants including more than 2,900 mortgage fraud defendants.

Northern California Real Estate Investor Agrees to Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging at Public Foreclosure Auctions Investigation Has Yielded 30 Plea Agreements to Date

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Northern California Real Estate Investor Agrees to Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging at Public Foreclosure Auctions
Investigation Has Yielded 30 Plea Agreements to Date
A Northern California real estate investor has agreed to plead guilty for his role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced.

Felony charges were filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco against Mohammed Rezaian, of Novato, Calif. Rezaian is the 30th individual to plead guilty or agree to plead guilty as a result of the department’s ongoing antitrust investigations into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California.

According to court documents, Rezaian conspired with others not to bid against one another, but instead to designate a winning bidder to obtain selected properties at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Francisco and San Mateo counties, Calif . Rezaian was also charged with conspiring to use the mail to carry out schemes to fraudulently acquire title to selected properties sold at public auctions, to make and receive payoffs, and to divert to co-conspirators money that would have otherwise gone to mortgage holders and others.   According to court documents, a forfeiture allegation was also included in the charges against Rezaian.

The department said Rezaian conspired with others to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Francisco and San Mateo counties beginning as early as July 2008 and continuing until about January 2011.

“As a result of this investigation, the Antitrust Division has thus far filed charges against 30 real estate investors in Northern California for their illegal activity at foreclosure auctions,” said Bill Baer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “The division will vigorously pursue the perpetrators of these fraudulent and anticompetitive schemes.”

The department said that the primary purpose of the conspiracies was to suppress and restrain competition and to conceal payoffs in order to obtain selected real estate offered at San Francisco and San Mateo County public foreclosure auctions at non-competitive prices. When real estate properties are sold at these auctions, the proceeds are used to pay off the mortgage and other debt attached to the property, with remaining proceeds, if any, paid to the homeowner.

 

“Not only is bid rigging at public foreclosure auctions illegal, it also severely undermines the integrity of a fair and competitive marketplace,” said David J. Johnson, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Field Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate and pursue those who commit fraudulent anticompetitive practices at foreclosure auctions and work with those who have fallen victim to such selfish crimes.”

 

A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals. The maximum fine for the Sherman Act charges may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims if either amount is greater than $1 million. A count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The government can also seek to forfeit the proceeds earned from participating in the conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
The charges today are the latest filed by the department in its ongoing investigation into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Costa and Alameda counties, Calif. These investigations are being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco office and the FBI’s San Francisco office. Anyone with information concerning bid rigging or fraud related to public real estate foreclosure auctions should contact the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco office at 415-436-6660 , visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm, or call the FBI tip line at 415-553-74 00.

Today’s charges were brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,900 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov .

Northern California Real Estate Investor Agrees to Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging at Public Foreclosure Auctions

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Investigation Has Yielded 27 Plea Agreements to Date

WASHINGTON — A Northern California real estate investor has agreed to plead guilty for his role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced.

Felony charges were filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco against Gilbert Chung of Burlingame, Calif. Chung is the 27th individual to plead guilty or agree to plead guilty as a result of the department’s ongoing antitrust investigations into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California.

According to court documents, Chung conspired with others not to bid against one another, but instead to designate a winning bidder to obtain selected properties at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Francisco and San Mateo counties, Calif. Chung was also charged with conspiring to use the mail to carry out schemes to fraudulently acquire title to selected properties sold at public auctions, to make and receive payoffs and to divert to co-conspirators money that would have otherwise gone to mortgage holders and others.

The department said Chung conspired with others to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Francisco and San Mateo counties beginning as early as January 2010 and continuing until about December 2010.

“The conspirators went to great lengths to suppress competition and prices at these foreclosure auctions,” said Bill Baer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “The division will continue to vigorously enforce the antitrust laws and to prosecute those who violate them at the expense of distressed homeowners.”

The department said that the primary purpose of the conspiracies was to suppress and restrain competition and to conceal payoffs in order to obtain selected real estate offered at San Francisco and San Mateo County public foreclosure auctions at non-competitive prices. When real estate properties are sold at these auctions, the proceeds are used to pay off the mortgage and other debt attached to the property, with remaining proceeds, if any, paid to the homeowner.

“Today’s charges are another example of our resolve to bring to justice those who engaged in fraudulent bid rigging and anticompetitive practices at foreclosure auctions,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson of the San Francisco Field Office. “We continue our partnership with the Antitrust Division in aggressively pursuing individuals who participate in these criminal acts.”

A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals. The maximum fine for the Sherman Act charges may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victim if either amount is greater than $1 million. A count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The government can also seek to forfeit the proceeds earned from participating in the conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

The charges today are the latest filed by the department in its ongoing investigation into bid rigging and fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Costa and Alameda counties, Calif. These investigations are being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the FBI’s San Francisco office. Anyone with information concerning bid rigging or fraud related to public real estate foreclosure auctions should contact the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office at 415-436-6660, visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm or call the FBI tip line at 415-553-7400.

Today’s charges are part of efforts underway by President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF), which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants, including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.