President Trump commuted the seven-year prison sentence of former GOP Rep. George Santos after he served only three months, despite Santos pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft in a donor scam. The commutation followed lobbying from Trump allies including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. …
Donald TrumpGeorge SantosMarjorie Taylor Greenecorruptionpatronageabuse-of-powerfraud
Florida officials concealed a $608 million federal funding request for an immigration detention facility nicknamed ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ misleading courts about federal involvement to bypass environmental safeguards and legal challenges. The DeSantis administration’s secrecy …
1789 Capital falsely marketed an ‘Inaugural U.S. Treasury A.I. Summit’ featuring Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, selling sponsorships with promised VIP access to senior government officials. The Treasury Department confirmed it never approved the materials or event. Organizers later …
The Securities and Exchange Commission under Trump-appointed chairman Paul Atkins abandoned civil enforcement cases seeking tens of millions in restitution from Devon Archer, Trevor Milton, and Carlos Watson—all convicted fraudsters pardoned or given clemency by Trump. The SEC filed joint …
Paul AtkinsDevon ArcherTrevor MiltonCarlos WatsonSEC+1 morecorruptioninstitutional-captureregulatory-captureimpunityfraud+1 more
On October 16, 2024, defense contractor RTX (formerly Raytheon) agreed to pay over $950 million to resolve Justice Department investigations into fraudulent billing schemes, foreign bribery, and export control violations spanning more than a decade. The settlement addressed three major criminal …
RaytheonDepartment of JusticeQatarDepartment of DefenseGreg Hayesraytheonfraudbriberypentagonqatar+3 more
Soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé’s official X (Twitter) account was compromised in a sophisticated phishing attack to promote a fraudulent $MBAPPE token on the Solana blockchain. The scam saw the token’s market cap rapidly surge to $464 million before crashing to less than $100,000 within …
Kylian MbappéUnknown HackersSahil Aroracryptopump-and-dumpcelebritysocial-mediaphishing+2 more
Soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé’s official X (Twitter) account was compromised in a sophisticated crypto scam on August 29, 2024. Hackers used his 14.4 million follower account to launch a fraudulent $MBAPPE token on the Solana blockchain, which rapidly reached a $464 million market cap before …
Kylian MbappéUnknown HackersSahil Aroracryptopump-and-dumpcelebritysocial-mediaphishing+3 more
HSI agents charged Devin Alan Rhoden (24, active-duty Air Force cyber analyst) and Berman Jerry Nowlin Jr. (20) with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering through NFT schemes. The defendants created two NFT collections (‘UndeadApes’ and ‘Undead Lady Apes’) on …
Devin Alan RhodenBerman Jerry Nowlin Jr.HSIDHSU.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Floridanftmoney-launderingfraudblockchainfederal-prosecution+3 more
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa led a multi-agency investigation charging Devin Alan Rhoden, a senior military cyber analyst, and Berman Jerry Nowlin Jr., an NFT developer, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The defendants created three NFT collections …
Devin Alan RhodenBerman Jerry Nowlin Jr.HSIDHSU.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations+2 morenftmoney-launderingfraudblockchainfederal-prosecution+3 more
House January 6th Committee’s second hearing revealed Trump raised $250 million post-election through fraudulent “Official Election Defense Fund” that never existed. Committee found Trump’s team sent up to 25 fraudulent fundraising emails daily, raising $100 million in first …
Donald TrumpTrump CampaignSave America PACHouse January 6th CommitteeZoe Lofgren+1 morefraudcampaign-financekleptocracyjanuary-6-committeebig-lie+2 more
A bipartisan coalition of 39 state attorneys general announced a $1.85 billion settlement with Navient Corporation on January 13, 2022, resolving allegations that the student loan servicing giant engaged in systematic fraud by steering struggling borrowers into costly long-term forbearances instead …
In his final hours as president, Donald Trump issued 73 pardons and 70 commutations—143 acts of clemency in a single day, overwhelming the typical pardon process and demonstrating systematic corruption of executive power. The pardons went almost exclusively to political allies, campaign donors, and …
Donald TrumpSteve BannonElliott BroidyKen KursonPaul Manafort+2 morePardonsCorruptionAbuse-of-PowerFraudPay-to-Play
The Department of Justice charged Boeing with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with the 737 MAX evaluation and entered a deferred prosecution agreement requiring Boeing to pay $2.5 billion in penalties. Despite evidence that Boeing executives knowingly deceived the …
Department of JusticeBoeing346 crash victimsVictims' familiesCriminal Division Fraud Sectionboeingdeferred-prosecutioncorporate-crimeimpunity737-max+2 more
Boeing released hundreds of internal messages to Congressional investigators and the FAA on January 9, 2020, revealing that employees knew the 737 MAX was unsafe, mocked regulators, and conspired to deceive certification authorities. In one April 2017 exchange, just before the aircraft’s first …
Boeing employeesFederal Aviation AdministrationDepartment of JusticeHouse Transportation CommitteeSenator Richard Blumenthalboeing737-maxinternal-communicationsregulatory-capturefraud+1 more
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation agreed to pay $5.2 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it fraudulently billed the United States Postal Service for personnel who lacked the required education and experience qualifications specified in their contract labor categories. The …
Northrop GrummanDepartment of JusticeU.S. Postal ServiceUSPS Office of Inspector GeneralDefense ContractorsFraudFalse Claims ActContractor AbuseAccountability+1 more
The University of Phoenix’s enrollment collapsed from a peak of 470,000 students in 2010 to approximately 95,000 by fall 2018—an 80% decline—as federal and state investigations exposed systematic fraud including deceptive advertising that falsely promised job opportunities with major companies …
University of PhoenixApollo Education GroupFederal Trade Commissionfor-profit-collegesfraudstudent-debtuniversity-of-phoenix
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation agreed to pay $31.65 million to settle civil and criminal charges for systematically defrauding the U.S. Air Force by overbilling labor hours on battlefield communications contracts between January 2011 and October 2013. The settlement included $27.45 million for …
Northrop GrummanDepartment of JusticeU.S. Air ForceDefense Criminal Investigative ServiceFBI+1 moreDefense ContractorsFraudMilitary-Industrial ComplexFalse Claims ActPentagon Contracts+2 more
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel issued a final order on April 10, 2018 concluding the Trump University litigation and authorizing distribution of the $25 million settlement to approximately 3,730 victims who would receive at least 90 percent of their money back. The finalization came more than a …
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel approved the $25 million Trump University settlement on March 31, 2017, clearing the way for approximately 3,730 victims to receive refunds of at least 90 percent of the money they spent on Trump University courses. The approval came four months after Trump agreed …
In 2017, Google’s secret “Project Bernanke” was in full operation—a systematic auction manipulation scheme that used insider information and algorithmic deception to advantage Google’s own ad-buying platform while harming both publishers and competing advertisers. The …
GoogleTexas Attorney General Ken PaxtonPublishersAdvertisersGoogle Ads platformgooglead-techauction-manipulationproject-bernankefraud+2 more
Donald Trump agreed on November 18, 2016 to pay $25 million to settle all three Trump University fraud lawsuits—two class actions and the New York Attorney General civil suit—just 10 days after winning the presidential election and less than two weeks before the San Diego class action was scheduled …
Donald TrumpGonzalo CurielEric SchneidermanTrump UniversityFraudSettlementConsumer ProtectionAccountability
ITT Technical Institute abruptly shut down all 130 campuses across 38 states on September 6, 2016, stranding approximately 35,000 students mid-semester and displacing 8,000 employees. The closure came after the Department of Education banned ITT from enrolling new students receiving federal aid and …
ITT Technical InstituteDepartment of EducationTed Mitchellfor-profit-collegesstudent-debtitt-techfraud
Court documents and victim testimony released in June 2016 revealed the devastating human cost of Trump University’s fraudulent scheme, with students testifying they lost retirement savings, disability income, and home equity after being pressured into purchasing courses costing up to $35,000. …
Donald TrumpRonald SchnackenbergGeorge HanusTrump UniversityFraudConsumer ProtectionVictim TestimonyElder Abuse
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel ordered the unsealing of over 400 pages of Trump University documents on May 31, 2016, revealing internal sales “playbooks” that detailed aggressive, predatory tactics designed to extract maximum money from vulnerable consumers. The documents exposed …
Gonzalo CurielDonald TrumpRonald SchnackenbergTrump UniversityFraudConsumer ProtectionCourt DocumentsSales Tactics+1 more
Northrop Grumman Corporation paid the United States $11.4 million to settle government claims that it violated a 2002 settlement agreement with the Defense Contract Management Agency by improperly charging federal contracts for deferred compensation awards to key executives, demonstrating how …
Northrop GrummanDepartment of JusticeDefense Contract Management AgencyDefense Contract Audit AgencyDefense ContractorsFraudFalse Claims ActExecutive CompensationContractor Abuse+2 more
Corinthian Colleges abruptly shut down all 28 of its remaining campuses on April 26, 2015, stranding 16,000 students mid-semester, and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 4, 2015, after months of federal and state investigations exposed systematic fraud affecting over 72,000 students. …
The U.S. Department of Education imposed a 21-day hold on all federal aid flowing to Corinthian Colleges on June 12, 2014, after the for-profit chain—operating as Everest College, WyoTech, and Heald College—refused to provide documentation substantiating falsified job placement rates. The action …
Department of EducationCorinthian CollegesArne Duncanfor-profit-collegesstudent-debtfraudcorinthian-colleges
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a $40 million civil lawsuit against Donald Trump, The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative (formerly Trump University LLC), and Michael Sexton on August 24, 2013, alleging “persistent fraudulent, illegal and deceptive conduct.” Schneiderman …
Eric SchneidermanDonald TrumpMichael SextonTrump UniversityFraudConsumer ProtectionNew York Attorney GeneralEric Schneiderman+1 more
A Government Accountability Office investigation released on August 4, 2010, exposed systemic fraud and deceptive practices across the for-profit college industry, revealing that while these institutions enrolled only 10-12% of all higher education students, they received 25% of all federal …
Government Accountability OfficeTom Harkinfor-profit-collegesstudent-debtfraudregulatory-capture
In June 2010, Trump University changed its name to “The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative” following sustained pressure from the New York State Education Department, which had repeatedly warned since 2005 that the organization was illegally using the term “university” without …
Donald TrumpMichael SextonJoseph FreyTrump UniversityFraudEducation FraudNew YorkRegulatory Evasion
The Better Business Bureau issued Trump University a D- rating in 2010, the lowest rating the enterprise received during its active operations. The rating resulted from multiple consumer complaints the BBB received documenting deceptive practices, high-pressure sales tactics, and unfulfilled …
Donald TrumpMichael SextonTrump UniversityFraudConsumer ProtectionBetter Business BureauEducation Fraud
Investigation reveals major banks systematically falsified foreclosure documents through ‘robo-signing’, affecting 3.8 million homes. Employees at major lenders signed thousands of foreclosure affidavits without verifying information, creating a massive documentation fraud that …
Bank of AmericaJPMorgan ChaseWells FargoCitigroupGMACfinancial-crisisfraudforeclosure-abuseperjury
Northrop Grumman Corporation and its predecessor TRW Inc. agreed to pay $325 million to settle False Claims Act allegations that they provided and billed the National Reconnaissance Office for defective microelectronic parts used in classified spy satellites over a decade-long period from 1992 to …
Northrop GrummanTRW Inc.Department of JusticeNational Reconnaissance OfficeRobert Ferro+1 moreDefense ContractorsFraudFalse Claims ActWhistleblowersIntelligence Agencies+3 more
Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $23,134,695 in restitution for his role in the massive congressional corruption scandal. This Washington D.C. sentencing was for conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, honest services fraud involving …
Jack AbramoffMichael ScanlonNative American TribesU.S. District CourtDepartment of Justice+4 morecorruptionlobbyingabramoffsentencingrestitution+2 more
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products agreed to pay $4,058,750 to settle federal fraud charges that it defectively manufactured or failed to properly test components for Navy aircraft and submarines, then fraudulently billed the government despite knowing the equipment did not meet …
General DynamicsBenton J. CampbellDefense Criminal Investigative ServiceNavydefense-contractorsfraudgeneral-dynamicssubmarinesdepartment-of-justice
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, exposing one of the largest congressional corruption scandals in modern U.S. history. Abramoff and partner Michael Scanlon defrauded Native American tribes of 5 million through inflated lobbying fees and secret kickbacks. The …
Jack AbramoffMichael ScanlonBob NeyTom DeLaySteven Griles+2 morecorruptionlobbyingabramoffcongressbribery+1 more
Donald Trump formally launched “Trump University” on May 23, 2005, a real estate training program that operated without proper academic licensing or accreditation. The enterprise, incorporated in 2004 with Trump owning 93% of the company, conducted three- and five-day seminars marketed …
Donald TrumpMichael SextonTrump UniversityFraudConsumer ProtectionEducation FraudBusiness Ethics
The Coalition Provisional Authority under Paul Bremer lost track of .8 billion in Iraqi oil revenues during the 14-month occupation period (May 2003-June 2004), representing one of the largest financial oversight failures in U.S. history. Nearly 2 billion in cash (363 tons) was shipped on C-130 …
Paul BremerCoalition Provisional AuthorityStuart BowenHalliburtonIraqi Governmentcpairaq-reconstructionfraudpaul-bremermissing-billions
Jack Abramoff orchestrated a complex lobbying scheme involving the Tigua tribe’s Speaking Rock Casino, first helping to lobby for its closure through Texas legislation, and then charging the tribe $4.2 million to allegedly reopen the casino. The case exemplifies Abramoff’s fraudulent …
Jack AbramoffMichael ScanlonTigua TribeRalph ReedTexas Legislatureabramofftigua-tribetexas-gamblingdouble-dealingfraud+1 more
Federal regulators seize Lincoln Savings and Loan, ending Charles Keating’s systematic fraud scheme that ultimately costs taxpayers $2.3 billion—one of the costliest S&L failures in American history. The seizure comes after years of regulatory delays caused by political interference from …
Charles KeatingFederal Home Loan Bank BoardResolution Trust CorporationLincoln Savings and LoanKeating Five Senatorscharles-keatinglincoln-savingss&l-crisisfraudseizure+1 more
Silverado Savings and Loan collapses with losses exceeding $1 billion to taxpayers, exposing serious conflicts of interest involving Neil Bush, son of Vice President-elect George H.W. Bush. Neil Bush served on Silverado’s board of directors from 1985-1988, during which he approved over $130 …
Neil BushGeorge H.W. BushSilverado Savings and LoanFederal Deposit Insurance CorporationGood International+1 moreneil-bushsilverados&l-crisisconflict-of-interestfraud+1 more
Charles Keating, through American Continental Corporation, purchases Lincoln Savings and Loan for $51 million. Exploiting the deregulated environment created by Garn-St Germain, Keating rapidly expands Lincoln’s assets from $1.1 billion to $5.5 billion over four years through high-risk real …
Charles KeatingAmerican Continental CorporationLincoln Savings and LoanKeating Five SenatorsFederal Home Loan Bank Boardcharles-keatinglincoln-savingsfraudkeating-fiveregulatory-capture+1 more
Reagan-era S&L deregulation creates massive moral hazard by combining three toxic elements: elimination of prudential lending standards, expanded federal deposit insurance covering risky investments, and weakened regulatory oversight. The Garn-St. Germain Act removes Depression-era constraints …
Ronald ReaganSavings and Loan industryFederal Home Loan Bank BoardFederal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporations&l-crisismoral-hazardderegulationfrauddeposit-insurance