Dec 22, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Secret Service: $100 billion stolen from COVID relief programs

Axios

Unemployment applications are seen as Hialeah, Florida, employees hand them out to people in front of a library. — Unemployment applications are made available at a Hialeah, Fla., library. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Nearly $100 billion has been stolen from U.S. government COVID relief programs — most in unemployment fraud, AP reports from a Secret Service announcement.

What they're saying: "The sheer size of the pot is enticing to the criminals," said Roy Dotson, the Secret Service pandemic fraud recovery coordinator.

The Justice Department said last week that its fraud section had prosecuted more than 150 defendants in over 95 criminal cases related to the Paycheck Protection Program.

The government has seized $75 million in cash, plus numerous real estate properties and luxury items bought with PPP proceeds.

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Secret Service: $100 billion stolen from COVID relief programs

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