SIGTARP Investigations
Primarily a law enforcement office, SIGTARP delivers justice and accountability for fraud, corruption or other illegal acts that harm EESA programs and put taxpayer dollars at risk. SIGTARP has concurrent jurisdiction with the FBI and supports DOJ's prosecutions.
466 defendants have been criminally charged as a result of SIGTARP investigations. SIGTARP has a 97 percent DOJ conviction rate. Already 406 defendants have been convicted, 315 of them sentenced to prison, while others await trial/sentencing. SIGTARP's investigations have led to prosecutions of more than 107 bankers (including 74 sentenced to prison) and DOJ enforcement actions against the largest banks. This proven record gives us the expertise to investigate financial institutions in HAMP. SIGTARP also found defendants who scammed 31,000 homeowners trying to access HAMP, including 121 criminally convicted. SIGTARP also investigates fraud, corruption, and environmental crimes in EESA-funded blight demolitions, and investigates homeowners stealing from HHF.
More than $11 billion has been recovered and SIGTARP has a cumulative 29 times return on investment. SIGTARP has one of the highest returns on investment of any office of inspector general. Each year, dollars recovered from SIGTARP's work far exceed our cost. In FY 2020 alone, the Federal government and victims recovered more than $157 million based on SIGTARP's investigations.
SIGTARP Audit
SIGTARP audits identify roadblocks and obstacles to speed assistance to Americans, bring transparency and prevent future fraud, waste and abuse. SIGTARP worked with the late Congressman John Lewis and Atlanta Legal Aid to identify mismanagement by a Georgia state agency who "guarded" federal mortgage assistance, denying high percentages of homeowners, including many homeowners in minority neighborhoods. After the state agency implemented SIGTARP's recommendations, more homeowners received assistance. SIGTARP identified $11 million wasted by HHF state agencies on a Mercedes Benz, parties, catered barbeques, employee gifts, and other perks. SIGTARP has recommended significant cost savings. SIGTARP has warned about the risk of corruption, lack of competition, and environmental and safety issues in federally funded demolitions of blighted properties.
SIGTARP Peer Reviewed Reports
Melissa Bruce is the Principal Deputy Special Inspector General Performing the Duties of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.