The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts recently announced the creation of a new fraud coordinator position. The announcement by U.S. Attorney Leah Foley comes amid a broader national push by the Trump administration to get tougher on fraud involving federal benefits. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley announced the new position following President Trump’s establishment of a fraud czar at the White House, and after the President made comments about cracking down on “fraudsters stealing from the American people.”
Federal Focus on High-Dollar Benefit Fraud Cases
According to Foley, the fraud coordinator will serve as the primary point of contact within her office for benefit fraud cases. The Massachusetts fraud coordinator will advise leadership on investigations and charging decisions.
The timing is no coincidence. Federal prosecutors have recently announced multiple high-dollar cases, including a $1 million SNAP fraud bust and a $7 million scheme involving two individuals accused of exploiting the program. State auditors have also identified nearly $12 million in public assistance fraud in a single fiscal year. Foley has described these cases as “the tip of the iceberg,” warning that many more prosecutions are coming.
What This Means for Defendants
The creation of a dedicated fraud coordinator suggests that benefit fraud cases will move at an increased pace with:
· more aggressive investigations
· faster referrals
· an increased likelihood of federal charges.
Unlike state-level enforcement, federal fraud prosecutions often carry severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences, asset forfeiture, and permanent consequences for immigration status and professional licenses.
Anyone facing allegations involving benefit fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy, or misuse of federal funds should understand that federal prosecutors have broad discretion and substantial resources when building these cases.
Federal vs. State Tensions
The announcement was made as a public dispute between Foley and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey got underway. Foley has accused state officials of failing to adequately investigate and refer fraud cases to federal authorities, while the Governor’s office maintains that it did alert federal agencies.
The dispute draws attention to the fact that the federal government and the state are not always aligned in how aggressively they pursue fraud. When federal authorities believe states are not doing enough, they may step in forcefully, often with harsher consequences for defendants.
Experienced Federal Defense Matters
As federal scrutiny intensifies, the risk of being swept into a high-stakes investigation increases. Early intervention by a criminal defense attorney experienced in federal fraud and benefit fraud cases can make a decisive difference, whether by challenging the investigation, negotiating with prosecutors, or defending the case in federal court.
In an era of aggressive enforcement and political pressure to “get tough,” strong federal defense representation is essential. At Dhar Law, LLP, our experienced federal benefit fraud defense team have many years of specialized experience fighting complex white-collar crimes in federal court. We have defended many high-dollar cases involving fraud and conspiracy in federal court, combating aggressive strategies by the prosecution and federal law enforcement. Contact us at 617 880-6155 to find out how our award-winning federal fraud defense team can defend your rights and create a strategy during a difficult time.
