The National Pandemic Fraud Recovery Coordinator is Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAIC) Roy Dotson of the US Secret Service’s Jacksonville field office.
The government stated Tuesday that ASAIC Dotson will coordinate activities across numerous ongoing Secret Service investigations into the fraudulent exploitation of COVID-19 relief applications, with stolen benefits totalling nearly $100 billion.
While the Secret Service is most recognized for protecting the President of the United States, it also has a financial fraud division.
While early in the pandemic, law enforcement, including the Secret Service, were concerned about fraud involving personal protective equipment (PPE), the release of federal funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has attracted the attention of individuals and organized criminal networks around the world.
The Secret Service and its partners are focusing their investigations on the exploitation of pandemic-related relief.
“The Secret Service currently has over 900 active criminal investigations into pandemic-related relief fund fraud,” Assistant Special Agent in Charge Roy Dotson said.
“That includes pandemic benefits as well as all other benefit schemes.” Every state has been affected, however, some have been hit more than others. The Secret Service is rushing to retrieve whatever it can, including funds taken from both federal and state programs.”
