Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Office

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Public Corruption

The Boston FBI investigates public corruption at the federal, state, and local level. In addition to investigations of those who hold and breach the public trust as government employees, this program also investigates those citizens who seek to illegally influence their public officials. Unlike the majority of criminal investigations, allegations of public corruption must meet a high evidentiary threshold before an investigation can be opened. This threshold, laid out in guidelines from the Attorney General of the United States over three decades ago, requires corroboration of facts contained in any allegation. Cases are opened only when authorized by the Agent in Charge or his designated assistant after consultation with representatives of the United States Attorney's Office. These matters are always sensitive due to the possible damage to the reputation of a public official that might be caused by disclosure of even a preliminary investigation.

These investigations use a wide variety of techniques including undercover operations, authorized electronic surveillance, and the assistance of cooperating witnesses. Additionally, the Boston FBI works jointly with other federal, state, and local agencies in almost every public corruption case.

Public Corruption tip line: (617) 223-6504

Organized Crime

The Organized Crime Program of the Boston Division investigates the activities of Organized Crime in three broad programs: 1) La Cosa Nostra, or the LCN for short; 2) Asian Criminal Enterprise, including the activities of Asian gangs, and 3) Russian and Eastern European Criminal Enterprises. The Special Agents who work in these programs concentrate their efforts in Boston, Worcester and Springfield, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. These Agents use a wide-range of investigative techniques, but emphasize the use of informants, and the gathering of evidence through court-authorized electronic surveillance. In recent years, undercover operations have become a useful tool against a range of Organized Criminal enterprises.

Economic Crimes

The FBI Boston investigates a wide variety of economic crimes. Our referrals for these investigations come from the public, from victims of criminal activity, and from concerned representatives of the securities industry and financial entities. In addition to large general fraud schemes involving use of the United States mail and/or interstate wires, priority economic crime matters include:

Securities Fraud. Substantial allegations of criminal activity related to market manipulation, insider trading, theft from securities accounts, and wire fraud will be vigorously pursued. The volatile and expanding nature of the securities industry in Boston and nationally has made securities fraud a prime focus for experienced FBI Agents.
Telemarketing Fraud. Unscrupulous telemarketers prey upon citizens by soliciting for fraudulent charitable causes, prize promotions, lottery schemes, and investment opportunities. This booming business in fraudulent telemarketing now costs U.S. citizens up to $40 billion annually. The vast majority of this activity comes from Canadian telemarketers preying on elderly Americans. The FBI, in conjunction with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other American and Canadian law enforcement entities, has brought criminal charges against dozens of such telemarketers. The FBI is committed to bringing these fraudulent telemarketers to justice.
Bankruptcy Fraud. Those who take advantage of our bankruptcy laws for their own personal benefit damage both legal and financial infrastructures. Individuals and corporations who conceal and misstate assets, who mislead creditors, and who illegally pressure bankruptcy petitioners will be fully investigated. Successful investigations by the Boston FBI have served and will continue to serve as a deterrent to this activity.

Applicant

Boston's squad C-8 comprises the Applicant Recruitment Office, applicant background investigations, Training, Media Relations, and Security programs.

The National Academy (NA) is a 11-week program of advanced professional instruction for local and state law enforcement managers holding the rank of Lieutenant or above, offered four times per year. It is located within the
FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

The National Executive Institute (NEI) is an executive level course for heads of departments and agencies serving population centers of 200,000 and above. It is designed to address national and international affairs in areas of political concerns, economic, military and social areas that impact upon organizations in the private and public sectors.

The Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS) is designed for Chiefs of Police with more than 50 sworn personnel and it meets twice a year in Quantico. We have a New England LEEDS which meets once a year for Chiefs of Police of 50 sworn personnel and under.

The Training Unit is responsible for administering a variety of police training schools offered to local and state law enforcement entities within the New England Region. The Training Unit is responsible for selecting law enforcement officers for the National Academy, the National Executive Institute, the Law Enforcement Development seminar and for various specialized in-services held at our FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia. The Training Unit also provides firearms training for FBI Agent personnel, law enforcement firearms instructors as well as officer street survival training.

Civil Rights

The Boston Civil Rights squad works in connection with local and state law enforcement agencies to address allegations of civil rights violations. The civil rights program includes four types of investigations: Color of Law, Hate Crimes, Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act violations, and Involuntary Servitude and Slavery cases.

Hate Crimes include criminal acts against a person or property motivated by the perpetrators' bias against the victim's race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Color of Law investigations are initiated based on allegations of police misconduct, usually matters concerning excessive force by officers. The FBI can investigate police misconduct cases jointly with Internal Affairs departments or its own. The findings of these investigations are reviewed by the US Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

FACE Act violations have been investigated by the FBI since the investigations concern property damage to Abortion clinics, or threats to the lives or safety of clinic physicians, staff, and patients. These cases are always investigated with the police department where the clinic is located and often with other federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Involuntary Servitude and Slavery cases typically concern the rights of individuals brought to the United States under false pretenses and then economically enslaved. In some cases, the victims are held against their will, while in other cases, they are forced to work for little compensation.

In all types of Civil Rights matters, the FBI's role is to enforce the US Constitution which includes the rights and privileges guaranteed to all inhabitants of the United States.

Financial Institution Fraud

The Boston division is home to the New England Financial Institution Fraud Task Force (NEFIFTF). The Task Force is comprised of representatives of several federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies as well as Department of Justice Attorneys. The purpose of the Task Force is to investigate and prosecute fraud perpetrated by bankers, businessmen, developers, real estate brokers, lawyers and others, against federally insured financial institutions in the New England area. Second, the FIF squad seeks to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for significant financial institution fraud such as major organized check rings and inside bank officials.

Fraud against the government may consist of bribery in contracts or procurements, collusion among contractors, false or double billing, false certification of the quality of parts or of test results, substitution of bogus or otherwise inferior parts, or fraud in public benefits programs. Governmental fraud costs the government and all taxpayers, and certain frauds pose grave risks to public safety. If you are aware of any ongoing fraud against the government, call the Boston FBI at 617-742-5533.

Intellectual property crimes. The Boston Office of the FBI is actively pursuing violations of copyright infringement and trademark infringement. Bootleg copies of movies and computer software piracy are examples of copyright infringement. Fraudulently made and labeled trademarked merchandise is an example of trademark infringement. If you have any information relating to infringements of copyrights or trademarks please contact us at (617) 742-5533.

Computer intrusions. Our New England Regional Computer Crime Squad is responsible for investigation into computer intrusions throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. We can be reached at (617) 742-5533. The squad was formed in support of the
National Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 1996.

Health Care Fraud

The FBI has the statutory authority to investigate all forms of fraud affecting both government sponsored and private insured health benefit programs. These programs include the following provider frauds:

Hospital
Nursing Home
Medical Transport
Home Healthcare
Durable Medical Equipment
Laboratory/Clinic

Forms of fraud include:

Bribes/Kickbacks
Services Not Rendered
Managed Care Abuses
Drug Diversion
Unbundling
Upcoding

Foreign Counterintelligence

The Boston FBI Division develops and maintains liaison with Department of Defense contractors, United States military facilities and establishments, and other corporate entities involved in the handling of classified, sensitive, or otherwise proprietary information identified as a potential target of theft by foreign intelligence agents or organizations.

The Boston FBI Division likewise aggressively pursues allegations of possible criminal activity in violation of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. This Act imposes prison terms and fines on persons and organizations who steal or destroy trade secrets of value with the intent to benefit any foreign power. The Act also imposes prison terms and fines on persons or organizations who knowingly steal or destroy trade secrets with the intent to economically benefit anyone other than the owner, or with the intent to injure the owner of the trade secret.



About Us FBI Priorities FBI History What We Investigate About Boston Community Outreach Press Releases Territory/Jurisdiction Wanted by the Boston FBI FBI Resources Home Page Reports and Publications Most Requested Forms & Services News Most Wanted Press Room New E-Scams & Warnings Employee Matters Employment Facts and Questions Headquarter Honors Internship Program	Public Corruption The Boston FBI investigates public corruption at the federal, state, and local level. In addition to investigations of those who hold and breach the public trust as government employees, this program also investigates those citizens who seek to illegally influence their public officials. Unlike the majority of criminal investigations, allegations of public corruption must meet a high evidentiary threshold before an investigation can be opened. This threshold, laid out in guidelines from the Attorney General of the United States over three decades ago, requires corroboration of facts contained in any allegation. Cases are opened only when authorized by the Agent in Charge or his designated assistant after consultation with representatives of the United States Attorney's Office. These matters are always sensitive due to the possible damage to the reputation of a public official that might be caused by disclosure of even a preliminary investigation. These investigations use a wide variety of techniques including undercover operations, authorized electronic surveillance, and the assistance of cooperating witnesses. Additionally, the Boston FBI works jointly with other federal, state, and local agencies in almost every public corruption case. Public Corruption tip line: (617) 223-6504 Organized Crime The Organized Crime Program of the Boston Division investigates the activities of Organized Crime in three broad programs: 1) La Cosa Nostra, or the LCN for short; 2) Asian Criminal Enterprise, including the activities of Asian gangs, and 3) Russian and Eastern European Criminal Enterprises. The Special Agents who work in these programs concentrate their efforts in Boston, Worcester and Springfield, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. These Agents use a wide-range of investigative techniques, but emphasize the use of informants, and the gathering of evidence through court-authorized electronic surveillance. In recent years, undercover operations have become a useful tool against a range of Organized Criminal enterprises. Economic Crimes The FBI Boston investigates a wide variety of economic crimes. Our referrals for these investigations come from the public, from victims of criminal activity, and from concerned representatives of the securities industry and financial entities. In addition to large general fraud schemes involving use of the United States mail and/or interstate wires, priority economic crime matters include: Securities Fraud. Substantial allegations of criminal activity related to market manipulation, insider trading, theft from securities accounts, and wire fraud will be vigorously pursued. The volatile and expanding nature of the securities industry in Boston and nationally has made securities fraud a prime focus for experienced FBI Agents. Telemarketing Fraud. Unscrupulous telemarketers prey upon citizens by soliciting for fraudulent charitable causes, prize promotions, lottery schemes, and investment opportunities. This booming business in fraudulent telemarketing now costs U.S. citizens up to $40 billion annually. The vast majority of this activity comes from Canadian telemarketers preying on elderly Americans. The FBI, in conjunction with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other American and Canadian law enforcement entities, has brought criminal charges against dozens of such telemarketers. The FBI is committed to bringing these fraudulent telemarketers to justice. Bankruptcy Fraud. Those who take advantage of our bankruptcy laws for their own personal benefit damage both legal and financial infrastructures. Individuals and corporations who conceal and misstate assets, who mislead creditors, and who illegally pressure bankruptcy petitioners will be fully investigated. Successful investigations by the Boston FBI have served and will continue to serve as a deterrent to this activity. Applicant Boston's squad C-8 comprises the Applicant Recruitment Office, applicant background investigations, Training, Media Relations, and Security programs. The National Academy (NA) is a 11-week program of advanced professional instruction for local and state law enforcement managers holding the rank of Lieutenant or above, offered four times per year. It is located within the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The National Executive Institute (NEI) is an executive level course for heads of departments and agencies serving population centers of 200,000 and above. It is designed to address national and international affairs in areas of political concerns, economic, military and social areas that impact upon organizations in the private and public sectors. The Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS) is designed for Chiefs of Police with more than 50 sworn personnel and it meets twice a year in Quantico. We have a New England LEEDS which meets once a year for Chiefs of Police of 50 sworn personnel and under. The Training Unit is responsible for administering a variety of police training schools offered to local and state law enforcement entities within the New England Region. The Training Unit is responsible for selecting law enforcement officers for the National Academy, the National Executive Institute, the Law Enforcement Development seminar and for various specialized in-services held at our FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia. The Training Unit also provides firearms training for FBI Agent personnel, law enforcement firearms instructors as well as officer street survival training. Civil Rights The Boston Civil Rights squad works in connection with local and state law enforcement agencies to address allegations of civil rights violations. The civil rights program includes four types of investigations: Color of Law, Hate Crimes, Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act violations, and Involuntary Servitude and Slavery cases. Hate Crimes include criminal acts against a person or property motivated by the perpetrators' bias against the victim's race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Color of Law investigations are initiated based on allegations of police misconduct, usually matters concerning excessive force by officers. The FBI can investigate police misconduct cases jointly with Internal Affairs departments or its own. The findings of these investigations are reviewed by the US Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. FACE Act violations have been investigated by the FBI since the investigations concern property damage to Abortion clinics, or threats to the lives or safety of clinic physicians, staff, and patients. These cases are always investigated with the police department where the clinic is located and often with other federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Involuntary Servitude and Slavery cases typically concern the rights of individuals brought to the United States under false pretenses and then economically enslaved. In some cases, the victims are held against their will, while in other cases, they are forced to work for little compensation. In all types of Civil Rights matters, the FBI's role is to enforce the US Constitution which includes the rights and privileges guaranteed to all inhabitants of the United States. Financial Institution Fraud The Boston division is home to the New England Financial Institution Fraud Task Force (NEFIFTF). The Task Force is comprised of representatives of several federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies as well as Department of Justice Attorneys. The purpose of the Task Force is to investigate and prosecute fraud perpetrated by bankers, businessmen, developers, real estate brokers, lawyers and others, against federally insured financial institutions in the New England area. Second, the FIF squad seeks to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for significant financial institution fraud such as major organized check rings and inside bank officials. Fraud against the government may consist of bribery in contracts or procurements, collusion among contractors, false or double billing, false certification of the quality of parts or of test results, substitution of bogus or otherwise inferior parts, or fraud in public benefits programs. Governmental fraud costs the government and all taxpayers, and certain frauds pose grave risks to public safety. If you are aware of any ongoing fraud against the government, call the Boston FBI at 617-742-5533. Intellectual property crimes. The Boston Office of the FBI is actively pursuing violations of copyright infringement and trademark infringement. Bootleg copies of movies and computer software piracy are examples of copyright infringement. Fraudulently made and labeled trademarked merchandise is an example of trademark infringement. If you have any information relating to infringements of copyrights or trademarks please contact us at (617) 742-5533. Computer intrusions. Our New England Regional Computer Crime Squad is responsible for investigation into computer intrusions throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. We can be reached at (617) 742-5533. The squad was formed in support of the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 1996. Health Care Fraud The FBI has the statutory authority to investigate all forms of fraud affecting both government sponsored and private insured health benefit programs. These programs include the following provider frauds: Hospital Nursing Home Medical Transport Home Healthcare Durable Medical Equipment Laboratory/Clinic Forms of fraud include: Bribes/Kickbacks Services Not Rendered Managed Care Abuses Drug Diversion Unbundling Upcoding Foreign Counterintelligence The Boston FBI Division develops and maintains liaison with Department of Defense contractors, United States military facilities and establishments, and other corporate entities involved in the handling of classified, sensitive, or otherwise proprietary information identified as a potential target of theft by foreign intelligence agents or organizations. The Boston FBI Division likewise aggressively pursues allegations of possible criminal activity in violation of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. This Act imposes prison terms and fines on persons and organizations who steal or destroy trade secrets of value with the intent to benefit any foreign power. The Act also imposes prison terms and fines on persons or organizations who knowingly steal or destroy trade secrets with the intent to economically benefit anyone other than the owner, or with the intent to injure the owner of the trade secret.