DOJ Taps Chicago U.S. Attorney's Office to Lead Trade Fraud Task Force

The Northern District of Illinois will serve as a key prosecutorial partner in the cross-agency effort to combat customs evasion and smuggling.

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Justice has selected the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois to serve as a lead prosecutorial partner for the newly launched Trade Fraud Task Force. The task force will aggressively pursue enforcement actions against parties who seek to evade federal customs laws or smuggle prohibited goods into the United States.

Why it matters

Chicago's strategic location as a major inland port and cargo hub makes it an ideal base for the DOJ's trade fraud prosecutions. The U.S. Attorney's Office has extensive experience leading large-scale criminal trade fraud cases, making it well-suited to spearhead the task force's efforts.

The details

The Trade Fraud Task Force will utilize a range of enforcement tools, including duty and penalty collection actions under the Tariff Act of 1930, civil damages lawsuits under the False Claims Act, and parallel criminal prosecutions. The DOJ is encouraging importers, supply chain actors, and industry whistleblowers to proactively audit their practices, self-disclose any unlawful behavior, and report serious trade fraud schemes.

  • The DOJ launched the Trade Fraud Task Force in late August 2025.
  • The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois was selected as a lead prosecutorial partner on February 24, 2026.

The players

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)

The federal executive department responsible for enforcing federal law and administering justice in the United States.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois

The U.S. Attorney's Office that serves as the federal prosecutor's office for the Northern District of Illinois, which includes the city of Chicago.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal executive department responsible for public security, including customs enforcement and border protection.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for environmental protection.

Andrew S. Boutros

The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, who previously led the DOJ's largest-ever set of criminal trade fraud prosecutions while serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“Chicago is one of the largest and most significant inland ports in the United States, allowing for expansive venue opportunities for criminal and civil trade fraud matters.”

— Andrew S. Boutros, U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois (DOJ Press Release)

What’s next

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois will work closely with DOJ attorneys and agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency to aggressively pursue enforcement actions against parties engaged in trade fraud.

The takeaway

The selection of the Chicago U.S. Attorney's Office to lead the DOJ's new Trade Fraud Task Force underscores the city's strategic importance as a major inland port and cargo hub, as well as the office's extensive experience in prosecuting large-scale trade fraud cases. This initiative signals the federal government's commitment to cracking down on customs evasion and the importation of prohibited goods.