Fraud Cases Backlogged at Justice

washingtonpost.com — More than 900 cases alleging that government contractors and drugmakers have defrauded taxpayers out of billions of dollars are languishing in a backlog that has built up over the past decade because the Justice Department cannot keep pace with the surge in charges brought by whistle-blowers, according to lawyers involved in the disputes. Many of the cases involve the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, rising health-care payouts, and privatization of government functions — all of which offer rich new opportunities to swindle taxpayers.Since 2001, 300 to 400 civil cases have been filed each year by employees charging that their companies defrauded the government. Whistle-blowers routinely wait 14 months or longer just to learn whether the department will get involved. Disputes can stay buried for years more while the government investigates the allegations.

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