Bailouts create more fraud investigation work for FBI

The FBI expects that the efforts of the US government in trying to get the economy flowing again by offering bailout will increase fraud and corruption cases in the country.

Robert Mueller, FBI Director stated that because September 11, 2001 hijacking attacks made FBI place greater emphasis on national security moving more than 2,000 investigators out of its criminal division, there was a sharp increase in corruption, fraud and gang-related cases.

Over the past three years the FBI has more than doubled its agents investigating mortgage fraud to 254 due to its doubled caseload, including public corruption cases which have increased by more than half since 2003; and gang-related cases which have doubled since 2001. Mueller also noted that the FBI had more than 1,000 agents to manage its work load during the last financial crisis. 

Moreover, the agency's caseload is expected to rise with the government funds flowing into economy, Mueller said. 

He added that the agency plans on recruiting were set back as the House of Representatives cut out a provision of the stimulus package that would have paid for 165 new FBI agents. Nonetheless, senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy said in April the Senate was expected to take up a legislation that would provide $245 million a year to the FBI.