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Release Date: July 23, 2008
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: Brendan LaCivita (202) 572-8878
New Orleans, LA. – General Doug O'Dell, federal coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, today hosted a roundtable discussion and press availability with over 40 federal, state, and local inspectors general and law enforcement officials on efforts to combat fraud and crime in post-Katrina New Orleans. The discussion served to further collaboration among all federal and state inspectors general, the New Orleans inspector general, and law enforcement officials on recovery issues related to fraud prevention, public corruption, and law enforcement.
"Fighting public corruption, fraud, and waste requires a continuum of effort by officials and law enforcement on all levels of government," said O'Dell. "Each of us here - federal, state, and local leaders – have an important role to play in the overall fight to ensure all taxpayer funds are spent as they originally were intended and appropriated."
To date, federal taxpayers have contributed more than $120 billion for recovery efforts.
"Safeguarding disaster recovery funds is critical to public confidence in the response and recovery effort and stopping fraud, waste, and abuse protects taxpayers and ensures that storm victims receive the benefits for which they were intended," O'Dell added.
At today's roundtable a pledge of continued cooperation was made by over 30 federal, state, and local leaders representing the leading edge in the fight against waste and public corruption and the efforts of the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Taskforce were recognized as a key component. To date, 892 prosecutions have been made – a significant increase from last year.
On May 12, General O'Dell hosted a meeting of key federal cabinet and agency inspectors general to highlight and discuss the full range of potential federal technical assistance and resources for the New Orleans inspector general.
Participants in today's roundtable included over 40 federal, state, and local officials, specifically:
U.S. Attorney Jim Letten commented by saying, "I offer my sincere appreciation to General O'Dell and his talented and able staff and his efforts to continue the formulation and execution of extraordinary solutions designed to ensure the recovery of the region post-Katrina. I am extremely proud of the myriad results achieved by his office and for the help and assistance he has provided to partners in the criminal justice field by identifying, attacking, and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The roundtable today is evidence of the best efforts being brought to bear to ensure the recovery of the region and I am proud to be a participant along with my other colleagues in the criminal justice community."
Louisiana Attorney General James "Buddy" Caldwell said "It takes federal, state, and local agencies working together to address and resolve the various issues our state and communities face during these post-Katrina times and the attorney general's office is pleased to participate in these efforts."
Robert Cerasoli, New Orleans inspector general, said "I appreciate the opportunity to participate in today's roundtable, and I appreciate the Office of the Federal Coordinator bringing together these leaders and key players and addressing crime and rooting out public corruption. My office is a key link in a larger structure and I appreciate the federal offers of technical assistance which span information sharing, law enforcement information, and leads for personnel."
Other federal, state, and local participants included:
The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding has been engaged in facilitating and streamlining the recovery effort, providing key federal support and resources to state and local leaders, as well as reinforcing the federal government's commitment to the people of the Gulf Coast.
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This page was last reviewed/modified on July 23, 2008.
