Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald Issues Memorandum on the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Enforcement Priorities
The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division outlined its enforcement priorities in a new memorandum, emphasizing aggressive prosecution of fraud to protect taxpayer funds and public safety.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald released a memorandum detailing the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s renewed focus on combating fraud across sectors. The Division aims to address losses estimated by the Government Accountability Office to range between $233 billion and $521 billion annually due to fraudulent activities. Priorities include targeting individuals and corporations defrauding federal programs, with efforts to restore public trust in government accountability. Recent cases underscore the Division’s commitment to pursuing complex and high-impact fraud schemes.
The memorandum follows recent sentencing in two high-profile cases. In Brooklyn, a man received 18 months in prison for laundering over $8 million in health care fraud proceeds through a U.S. bank. In Texas, a physician was sentenced to 12.5 years for operating an illegal pill mill that issued prescriptions for over 3 million opioids. These cases reflect the Division’s focus on fraud affecting public health and safety.
A federal grand jury in Nevada indicted Stephen Dubin, M.D., 74, of Henderson, for allegedly defrauding Medicare in a $95 million scheme. The charges highlight the Division’s scrutiny of large-scale fraud targeting federal healthcare programs. The memorandum signals a broader crackdown on fraudulent activities that undermine government integrity.
The memorandum emphasizes the Division’s mission to prosecute fraud regardless of scale or complexity, aiming to deter future misconduct. By prioritizing enforcement actions, the Division seeks to safeguard taxpayer funds and protect Americans from fraudulent schemes that threaten economic and public health security.