NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
John L. Brownlee United States Attorney Heidi Coy Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2250 FAX (540) 857-2180 |
March 15, 2007
FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FORM FINANCIAL CRIMES TASK FORCE
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee and Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell announced today that state, local and federal law enforcement have joined together to form the Roanoke Valley Financial Crimes Task Force. The mission of this task force is to provide a coordinated response to identity theft crimes and to link isolated identity theft crimes and complaints with larger schemes and related criminal activity.
“Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the district. The number of federal financial crimes prosecutions in my office have doubled in recent years,” said United States Attorney John Brownlee. “Through the formation of this task force, state, local and federal partners will be able to share information and resources that will link individuals who commit these crimes in multiple jurisdictions. In addition, those who commit financial crimes will face stiff penalties that will not only take these criminals off the streets, but will serve as a deterrent to others who may become involved in this kind of activity.”
Cases will be prosecuted on both the federal and state levels, or may also be handled by specially appointed prosecutors from the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. Those who commit federal Aggravated Identity Theft face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of two years. That sentence must run consecutively to any other prison term that is imposed for any other violation. Aggravated Identity Theft is the only federal fraud offense that requires a term of imprisonment upon conviction.
"Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country. A Virginian victimized by identity theft will have to spend significant amounts of money and time to repair the damage done. Often, the damage done to a victim's credit standing lasts for many years. We must continue to fight this crime of modern times. By working together, federal, state and local authorities can focus our combined resources to address this important public safety problem, and we can prevent Virginians from becoming victims of this 21st century crime," said Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell.
The Roanoke Valley Financial Crimes Task Force will also focus on educating victims, law enforcement and the general public about all aspects of identity theft. Through these combined efforts, the goal of this task force is to deter future identity theft crimes.
The task force will be based at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service office on Rutherford Avenue in Roanoke. The following agencies are the core members of the task force:
The United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Virginia
The Virginia Attorney General’s Office
The United States Postal Inspection Service
The United States Secret Service
The Virginia State Police
The City of Roanoke Police Department
The Roanoke County Police Department
The Salem Police Department
The following agencies are also participating agencies in the task force and will provide investigators on an as-needed basis:
The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service
Information about the task force will be available on the task force website at www.RoanokeFinancialCrimes.com, which will also serve as a resource for victims and the general public. The website is currently under construction and should be available on April 1, 2007.
Victims of financial crimes may file complaints by contacting any core member agency.