According to budget documents submitted yesterday to Congress, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is asking for $5 million to give its criminal division a boost in personnel, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The DOJ said in its documents that it wants to add 28 new position, 16 of which would be prosecutors, to handle financial fraud cases. The department said some of those prosecutors may be a part of a new unit the DOJ is creating to investigate possible misconduct associated with residential mortgage-backed securities. The unit was first announced in President Obama’s State of the Union address earlier this year.
“Without the commitment of additional resources, the department’s expanding fraud caseload will outstrip its ability to handle such matters effectively and efficiently,” the department said. “These resources will enable the department to hold accountable criminals who perpetrate financial and mortgage fraud, deter future perpetrators of fraud, and recover monies stolen from the U.S. taxpayer.”
The DOJ’s civil division also is asking for additional money to boost staff. In its filing, it requested $7 million for 51 positions, including 38 lawyers. While the Federal Bureau of Investigation has asked for $15 million to put toward boosting its fight against corporate fraud, commodities fraud and mortgage fraud.
