Missouri and federal prosecutors say recent fraud investigations show why Operation Show-Me the Money was launched.
U.S. Attorney Matt Price says Missouri federal prosecutors have recently handled cases involving millions of dollars in fraud losses.
“The Heartland fraud surge which was announced in Kansas City, Missouri last month," Price says. "During that announcement, the western and eastern districts of Missouri U.S. Attorney's Offices reported prosecuting cases accounting for a combined $62 million in actual and intended fraud losses.”
Price says federal prosecutors and investigators will work alongside Missouri agencies to protect public funds and strengthen oversight and points to two recent cases.
“And in my office, the Western District, a childcare operator was recently indicted for falsifying employee numbers to get nearly $80,000 in taxpayer assistance that was intended to support Missouri childcare providers," Price explains. "Recently also, a Kansas City woman was indicted for falsifying her income to obtain 10s of thousands of dollars of SNAP benefits for which she was ineligible.”
Price says Operation Show-Me the Money is intended to help investigators uncover fraud sooner and protect taxpayer dollars from abuse.
Missourinet