Prosecuting Financial Crimes
Protecting Consumers <<
As San Francisco District Attorney, Kamala Harris has made the prosecution of financial crimes and the protection of consumers a priority by forming two specialized prosecution units focused on Elder Abuse and Real Estate Fraud, and High-tech Crime and ID Theft to address these growing crimes.
From January 2008 to the present, the SFDA High-tech Crime and ID Theft Unit has charged almost 75 new cases. The SFDA Elder Abuse and Real Estate Fraud Unit has filed twice as many felony cases from 2007 to 2008. Additionally, DA Harris has expanded the SFDA Consumer Protection Unit which handled over 450 consumer complaints in 2009.
Kamala Harris also formed the first stand-alone Mortgage and Investment Fraud Unit in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute financial predators. The United States Department of Justice awarded the SFDA a $1.06 million grant to establish the unit and intensify local efforts to protect consumers from mortgage and investment fraud.