Home Birmingham Press Releases 2010 FBI Seeks Public Assistance in Identifying Public Corruption and Fraud in Connection with Federal Stimulus Money...
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FBI Seeks Public Assistance in Identifying Public Corruption and Fraud in Connection with Federal Stimulus Money

FBI Birmingham April 16, 2010
  • Public Affairs Specialist Paul E. Daymond (205) 279-1457

BIRMINGHAM—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Patrick J. Maley announced today that nationally, the FBI anticipates public corruption and fraud stemming from the $787 billon American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly known as “stimulus money.” In an effort to take proactive measures to address this potential problem on a local level, the Birmingham Division of the FBI has established the following link on their website to assist citizens in identifying potential corruption: http://birmingham.fbi.gov/priorities.htm#4.

If citizens answer “yes” to any of the questions posed on this link, they are strongly encouraged to report this information to the FBI. The identities of individuals providing information are kept confidential.

Other efforts to be proactive in combating potential public corruption and fraud in north Alabama include an advertisement being placed in the “Legals” section of the Sunday edition of The Birmingham News for the following three Sundays (April 18, April 25 and May 2), since the “Legals” section is where government bids are posted.

Public corruption is a breach of trust by federal, state, or local officials—often with the help of private sector accomplices. It’s also the FBI’s top criminal investigative priority. The FBI relies heavily on public assistance in identifying potential wrongdoing by public officials and no information—no matter how seemingly insignificant it may seem is unimportant.

Citizens may report concerns via the following methods:

Online at: birmingham@ic.fbi.gov. Place “Public Corruption Tip” in the Subject line;

FBI Birmingham Public Corruption Tip Line: 1-877-628-2533.

SAC Maley encouraged citizen involvement: “We need the eyes and ears of all concerned citizens to help us in fighting crime and corruption. Don’t be a silent witness. Call the FBI if you are aware of any possible corruption or fraud.”

“We have a zero tolerance policy on fraud connected to federal stimulus money,” said U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance. “We will aggressively prosecute all cases in which that money has been wrongly used.”