By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department has appointed Kevin A. A. as a federal prosecutor. Chambers will lead efforts of the department to investigate fraudsters using the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud government aid programs.

Previewed last week by President Joe Biden, Chambers was appointed as the Justice Department’s chief pandemic-fraud prosecutor.

According to Chambers LinkedIn profile, Chambers is the Associate Deputy attorney General.

He worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney from 2010 through 2014, and then worked at the law firm of Latham & Watkins. Between June 2018 and January 2021, the Co-chair of Latham & Watkins’ Washington, D.C., trial and litigation department was he.

Justice Department has made it a priority to combat criminal and civil fraud arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Merrick Garland, Attorney General launched the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force in May 2021. This group, headed by Lisa Monaco, Deputy Attorney General, will meet Thursday to officially unveil Chambers’ new position.

The majority of fraud cases that the department investigates can be attributed to U.S. government programs such as Medicare, Paycheck Protection Program and Unemployment Insurance.

The Justice Department has alleged that $8 billion of pandemic relief fraud was committed in its enforcement actions.

The company has filed over 1000 criminal cases with losses exceeding $1.1 billion and more than 1,800 people and companies in civil litigation alleging that fraud was committed in relation to loans worth more than $6 million.