Justice for Fraud Victims, Howard Co. State's Attorney Team Up

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Prosecutors with the Office of the State's Attorney for Howard County will have access to specialized forensic accounting expertise thanks to a new partnership.

Justice for Fraud Victims, Inc. will provide prosecutors with no-cost forensic accounting expertise while giving University of Maryland students hands-on experience in financial investigations, including cases involving fraud, embezzlement and other financial situations.

Through the partnership, JFV may provide forensic accounting services on a case-by-case basis at no cost to the state's attorney's office.

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"These cases are about more than numbers on a page. They are real people who have lost money and, in many cases, their sense of security," said Howard County State's Attorney Rich Gibson. "Our prosecutors must be able to follow the money and understand the financial evidence. This partnership gives us another resource to help us build strong cases and pursue justice for victims."

Depending on the needs of a particular case, JFV's forensic accounting services could include examining financial records and tracing transactions; determining whether unauthorized or fraudulent transactions occurred and quantifying losses; analyzing how suspected transactions were carried out or concealed; identifying individuals or other parties implicated by the evidence; and preparing reports and exhibits for use in legal proceedings.

"Fraud victims are often underserved because these investigations require time, specialized training and meticulous documentation," said Samuel Handwerger, CPA, CrFA, MS-Tax, a senior lecturer with the Smith School. "Our students, supported by experienced professionals, have an opportunity to apply their training to real-world investigations while helping law enforcement and prosecutors better understand complex financial evidence."