This is the term given to the form of white collar crime perpetrated in areas involving federal funds. It does not necessarily mean that federal funds are actually stolen, only that federal funds were involved in some manner. The crime’s connection to federal funds is often tenuous, giving good criminal attorneys arguments as to why the charges should not apply.
18 U.S.C. §666 is the federal statute that makes it a federal crime to steal federal money distributed through a federal program. In addition, this statute criminalizes the misapplication of property or services from State or local governments or other entity that receives federal money.
To secure a charge or conviction for Federal Programs Fraud, 18 U.S.C. §666 requires federal prosecutors to show:
It is clear that this statute was intended to apply to the actual theft of federal funds provided to any organization or state or municipal government. The defenses often raised in such federal programs fraud cases include:
However, prosecutors have extended the federal programs fraud statute to other cases, such as public corruption and bribery cases. Their theory is that an elected official, as an agent of a state or municipal government that receives money from the federal government (through highway funds, or school funds) commits federal programs fraud by selling their influence or their vote. Whether this statute was intended to apply to such behavior remains a point of contention among federal programs fraud attorneys.
At Boles Holmes White, we have experience in representing those charged with federal programs fraud, and have obtained “not guilty” verdicts on these charges. If you are the target of a federal programs fraud charge or if you’ve been indicted criminally, give us a call. Whether you are located in Alabama, New York, the District of Columbia or anywhere in the country, our federal programs fraud attorneys would like to help you.
Boles Holmes White LLC is a full-service law firm providing transactional, litigation, government relations and white collar/criminal defense. We represent both businesses and individuals throughout the Southeast Region. As a full-service law firm with roots in the small town of Dothan and with large Birmingham firm experience, all of our attorneys strive to provide clients “big firm” representation with “small town” accessibility and personal attention. That is what sets us apart.
no representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.