Reducing Mortgage Fraud and Crime Related to Vacant Properties/Mortgage Fraud Investigation and Prosecution Program

The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) will help communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provide for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. This competitive grant announcement focuses on initiatives in eight areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime through community-based data-driven approaches; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships.

Under category 3, Ventura County District Attorney's Office will use the FY 2009 Recovery Act Byrne Competitive funds for the Reducing Mortgage Fraud and Crime Related to Vacant Properties/Mortgage
Fraud Investigation and Prosecution Program. The District Attorney's Office will use the funds to: (1) create five new full-time positions, consisting of two investigators, one prosecutor, one bilingual investigative aide, and one legal assistant; (2) conduct outreach to communities through speaking and training events; (3) increase successful prosecutions by 50 percent by the second year; (4) increase the number of suspects targeted for investigation and prosecution by 50 percent; and (5) increase services to victims of mortgage fraud through restitution and forfeitures.

CA/NCF