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USA Today
June 28, 2011

Fewer prosecuted in benefits program fraud
By Brad Heath


In the two years since President Obama took office, data released by the Justice Department show the number of criminal prosecutions for defrauding those programs has dropped by about 20% to its lowest point in a decade. Figures from the department's annual reports and from TRAC, a research organization at Syracuse University, also show a declining number of prosecutions. Last year, records show, the Justice Department brought 678 such cases. During the past two years, the agencies responsible for investigating fraud have referred about 8% fewer cases to federal prosecutors, Justice Department records show. At the same time, records compiled by TRAC show that prosecutors have been turning down a higher percentage of the referrals they received.



Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, Syracuse University
Copyright 2011
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