NCJ Number
205471
Date Published
2002
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report presents the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) fiscal year 2002 report on financial institution fraud (FIF) and failure.
Abstract
The FBI seeks to identify, target, disrupt, and dismantle criminal networks or individuals involved in fraudulent schemes that target America’s financial institutions. The FBI also seeks to promote prevention measures and reduce the opportunity for fraud within financial institutions. At the close of fiscal year 2002, pending FIF investigations with the FBI totaled 7,305, 58.7 percent of which were identified as major cases. Numbers of convictions in major cases have remained stable since fiscal year 1995. Recently, external fraud schemes have replaced bank insider abuse as the leading FIF challenge facing financial institutions. Moreover, the transnational nature of many fraud schemes has increased the complexity of these crimes. The FBI continues to focus enforcement efforts on organized criminal groups that target financial institutions. Following an introduction, section 1 presents data on FIF investigations from 1992 through 2002 and describes the percentage change from previous year FIF investigations. Data are also offered concerning FIF investigations by field office and category; FIF investigations for 1998 through 2002; number of FDIC-insured problem institutions, and assets of FDIC-insured problem institutions from 1998 to 2002. Section 2 presents data on FIF and major cases under investigation by the FBI by fiscal year for years 1998 through 2002. Data are also offered for pending cases. Since a peak in July 1992, the number of failure investigations has steadily declined, but total FIF and major case investigations have leveled off to reach pre-1992 levels. At the close of fiscal year 2002 there were 4,287 major FIF cases and 7,305 pending cases. Section 3 presents information regarding convictions and pre-trial diversions; indictments; recoveries, restitutions, and fines; and seizures and forfeitures resulting from FBI investigations of FIF and financial institution failure cases. Percentages of convictions in major FIF cases have increased since fiscal year 2001, while the total number of defendants charged by indictment or information decreased 9.75 percent since fiscal year 2001. Recoveries in fiscal year 2002 totaled $28.2 million. Tables, charts, graphs