Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2010, $250,000)
The Congressionally Recommended Awards Program, authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects recommended by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-117, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 2010 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY2010 Department of Justice Appropriations Act.
The Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will expand the Wayne County Mortgage Fraud Team. The award will add a prosecutor and two detectives to the team, which will consist of five full-time prosecutors, one lead prosecutor in a supervisory capacity on a part-time basis, nine experienced detectives (including a sergeant), one paralegal, and one Register of Deeds department executive. The team will be entirely dedicated to combat mortgage fraud and related crime (such as identity theft and other financial crime). The team's mission will be to zealously investigate and prosecute each deed and/or mortgage fraud case from the minute the complaint is received from the victim and/or affected parties until conviction and sentence.
The goals are to: (1) increase the number of defendants charged, prosecuted, and convicted of mortgage fraud related crimes, including foreclosure avoidance and loan modification scams; (2) ensure a highly effective investigative process before a warrant is issued, which will in turn lead to a solid prosecution case, resulting in a fast and just court process; (3) increase the number of properties returned to their owners and amount of restitution to the victims; (4) enhance the cooperation between the different government agencies fighting mortgage fraud as well as between the government and private entities such as banks, accountants, real estate agencies, and title companies; (5) train more law enforcement personnel in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of mortgage fraud related crime; (6) inform members of the community about detection and prevention of mortgage fraud related crimes, especially identity theft; and (7) work with other entities and community groups to minimize the number of foreclosures within the jurisdiction.
NCA/NCF