COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division has uncovered approximately $350 million in alleged fraud across the Southeastern United States, according to the Daily Caller.

The charges cover 17 cases across seven states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The fraud involves SNAP benefits, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, housing benefits, and tax fraud.

Mississippi authorities have accused Lakeith Faulkner, an attorney and SBA employee, of orchestrating a kickback scheme with co-conspirators, including a former IRS employee, to generate millions in fraudulent SBA loan payments.

In North Carolina, eight individuals allegedly conspired to file false tax returns claiming fraudulent refunds based on COVID-19 tax credits, resulting in nearly $25 million in losses. Another case announced involved an individual accused of committing $70 million in tax fraud.

The DOJ and the seven states have agreed to data-sharing arrangements giving the department access to publicly available corporate registration and public benefits payment data from state agencies. Officials expect this data to help identify fraud patterns across businesses.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. emphasized the need for cooperation between federal and state partners to combat fraud. Meanwhile, political figure Vance remarked, “Because you all work hard, because you all pay your taxes, because you do things the right way, it is time to have leadership in Washington that treats you the right way and protects those hard earned tax dollars.”

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