‘Show-Me the Money’ targets fraud across Missouri
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Federal and state authorities are launching a new Missouri-wide effort to investigate fraud involving taxpayer-funded benefit programs.
Operation Show-Me the Money will combine resources from the U.S. attorney’s offices in Missouri’s Western and Eastern districts with state agencies and elected officials.
R. Matthew Price, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri, told Fox News Digital the partnership will allow authorities to investigate cases across the state, regardless of the amount of money involved.
“No fraud is too small to prosecute,” Price said.
The Justice Department said the initiative will focus on Missouri programs that distribute about $11.5 billion in federal funding to individuals and organizations. The stated goal is to identify fraud more quickly, share information among agencies and recover money intended for eligible recipients.
Price described the arrangement as a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Missouri and the federal government.
The initiative follows Operation No Doze, a nationwide summer enforcement surge targeting fraud involving Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan money issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal authorities said enforcement actions involved more than 160 defendants and about $245 million in alleged or intended losses. Nearly 80 defendants were newly charged, while dozens of others pleaded guilty or were sentenced.
Several cases were filed in western Missouri, including allegations involving residents of Jasper and Dade counties.
Price said authorities intend to pursue both large and small cases involving programs created to help businesses and people in need.
