HOUSTON - Representatives from numerous federal and state law enforcement agencies have formed a working group to investigate and prosecute illegal activity related to Hurricane Harvey.

Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez made the announcement along with Acting U.S. Attorney Corey R. Amundson of the Middle District of Louisiana who serves as the Acting Executive Director of the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), Harris County District Attorney (DA) Kim Ogg, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Director Shamoil T. Shipchandler of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) - Fort Worth Regional Office, Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBI, Special Agent in Charge David Green of the Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Special Agent in Charge D. Richard Goss of IRS – Criminal Investigations (CI), Special Agent in Charge Douglas W. Thigpen of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Regional Director Dama Brown of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

“This disaster has brought and will continue to bring unprecedented human and financial loss to our communities, and victims of this event have already suffered staggering devastation,” said Martinez. “The last thing that victims of this damage need is to be victimized again. Under the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, we bring a comprehensive law enforcement focus to combat any criminal activity arising from the tragedy of Hurricane Harvey and the rebuilding efforts underway.”...