NCJ Number
112581
Date Published
1988
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This review of fraud investigations referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution by inspectors general at the Departments of Agriculture and Labor and the General Services Administration (GSA) focuses on characteristics of such cases, actions taken against those referred for prosecution, and whether investigators identified underlying causes of fraud for program managers.
Abstract
Sources of information include closed fraud cases from fiscal years 1983 through 1985, punitive actions taken between 1983 and 1987, and interviews. The most prevalent fraud in the Department of Agriculture involved the food stamp program. Food program fraud investigations decreased substantially, however, from 1983 to 1986. The most common illegal activity in the Department of Labor was claimant fraud, primarily involving the unemployment insurance program. Labor referrals for prosecution involving this fraud rose dramatically between 1983 and 1987. Convictions and monetary recoupments also increased substantially. Fraud cases referred by GSA for prosecution were categorized as 48 percent white collar crime, 25 percent theft, and about 5 percent bribery or conflict of interest. Each inspector general had established a mechanism to report weakness uncovered in investigations to managers so corrective actions could be taken. Agency comments are appended. Graphs.