MOBILE, AL – On August 26, the Department of Justice announced the launch of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the “Fraud Division.” The mission of the Fraud Division will be to prosecute fraud in the United States, no matter its size or complexity. Prosecution of fraud is critical to restoring public confidence in the federal government’s ability to responsibly steward taxpayer dollars. The Government Accountability Office recently estimated that the federal government loses between $233 billion to $521 billion annually to fraud. Fraud schemes exploit a variety of sectors – health care, defense, technology, tax, trade, and many others – harming vulnerable people and undermining trust in the American way of life. Given the fraud epidemic gripping the county, President Donald J. Trump announced the creation of the Fraud Division earlier this year, calling on us to activate the tools of justice more than ever before to combat fraud. The Fraud Division will focus resources on prosecuting frauds that threaten the health, safety, security, and prosperity of Americans – especially the most vulnerable among us, including children, the elderly, and the sick or disabled. Fraud Division Attorneys therefore will prioritize fraud involving public trust and financial integrity, health care, internal revenue, global trade and commerce, and corporate misconduct. The Fraud Division will set national priorities for fraud enforcement, working closely with United States Attorneys, the Civil and Criminal Divisions, federal law enforcement, executive agencies, and state and local partners to ensure the fraud-fighting apparatus is focused on protecting the American people. Prosecutions of fraudsters is critical to advancing the interests of the United States and fraudsters who dare steal from Americans and their government will be systematically targeted, prosecuted, and imprisoned. The Southern District of Alabama has a long history of successfully bringing actions to protect the taxpaying public from all types of fraud and misuse of government funds. The Fraud Division will bring more resources to bear on those who seek to steal from the people of the United States. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.