Investigator

United States Attorneys' Offices; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework options

Job summary

United States Attorneys' Offices seeks a Civil Fraud Investigator to support investigations into False Claims Act violations. The role involves reviewing complex financial transactions, public records, and electronic evidence, interviewing witnesses, and preparing investigative reports for attorneys.

The incumbent works with U.S. Attorneys and agency counsel, coordinating with HHS-OIG, CMS, FBI, and state units to identify fraud patterns and assist in settlements and damages calculations.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience at GS-9 level or education as described.
• Experience conducting routine investigations and/or financial examinations.
• Knowledge of health care fraud, contracting fraud, or other fraud laws.

Responsibilities

• Conduct complex investigations into civil fraud schemes across federal programs.
• Collect and analyze evidence from claims data, medical and financial records.
• Develop investigative plans and interview witnesses with experts.
• Evaluate credibility and corroborate statements with documentary evidence.
• Present findings and recommendations clearly for attorneys.
• Prepare detailed investigative reports and chronologies.

Skills

Investigations

Witness interviews

Financial analysis

Report writing

Education

Graduate degree in Criminal Justice/Data Science/Public Health/Medical/Business

Tools

Public records databases

Data analysis tools

Job description

Summary

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.

Summary

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Duties

Help The incumbent serves as a Civil Fraud Investigator responsible for supporting investigations involving violations of the False Claims Act. Investigations may involve complex financial transactions, asset identification and valuation, review of public records, analysis of documentary and electronic evidence, witness interviews, and preparation of investigative reports.

Typical Work Assignments Will Included

• Conduct complex investigations into suspected civil fraud schemes involving Medicare (including false billing, kickbacks, upcoding, unbundling, medically unnecessary services, and other fraudulent practices), customs duties, and other federal programs.
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize evidence, including claims data, medical records, financial documents, and business records, to identify patterns and indicators of fraud.
• Develop investigative plans, conduct interviews of witnesses, and collaborate with auditors, data analysts, and subject‑matter experts.
• Evaluate witness credibility and corroborate statements through documentary and other evidence.
• Present findings of fact, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
• Prepare detailed investigative reports, chronologies, and evidentiary summaries.
• Work closely with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and agency counsel to support litigation, including participating in strategy meetings.
• Coordinate efforts with federal and state agencies such as HHS‑OIG, CMS, FBI, state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, and CBP, among others.
• Participate in settlement discussions and assist in calculating damages, penalties, and potential recoveries.
• Maintain accurate investigative files and ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and evidentiary standards.
• Conduct asset searches and financial investigations using public records, commercial databases, government information systems, and open‑source resources.
• Document investigative findings related to asset ownership, valuation, transfers, and potential concealment.
• Examine financial records, accounting documents, bank records, invoices, contracts, billing records, grant files, procurement records, and related documentation.
• Identify, locate, and evaluate real property, business interests, vehicles, financial accounts, and other assets relevant to investigations.
• Review deeds, property records, court filings, corporate registrations, tax records, and other public records.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become progressively more complex and independent.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre‑employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• Time‑in‑Grade: Federal employees must meet time‑in‑grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Qualifications

GS‑11

To be eligible at the GS‑11 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑9 level; or education or a combination of both specialized experience and education as explained below.

Specialized experience

is defined as experience conducting routine investigations and/or financial examinations as the lead or sole investigator or analyst, or assisting with complex investigations as an investigator or analyst; knowledge of relevant state, local, and/or federal laws or regulations regarding health care fraud, contracting fraud, or other fraud; conducting interviews of witnesses; creating reports on the progress of investigations for use by attorneys; and identifying significant findings and conclusions, recommendations for additional investigative actions, and candid assessments of strengths and weaknesses of witnesses, documentary evidence, or other aspects of cases.

Education

One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Data Science, Public Health, Medical, Business): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Combining Education and Experience

Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 2 full years.

GS‑12

To be eligible at the GS‑12 level, you must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑11 level in Federal service.

Specialized Experience

One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑11 in Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as performing the following types of duties: conducting complex investigations and/or financial examinations; knowledge of public healthcare programs, the statutory and regulatory provisions governing such programs, and/or methods to identify fraud, waste, and abuse within such programs; selecting interviewees and conducting interviews of witnesses; performing quantitative, qualitative or other analysis of relevant facts; coordinating investigatory activities with, and otherwise liaising with, other federal or state agencies; and creating analytical or investigative reports to guide the attorneys and investigative team with regard to further investigative steps, the evidence that supports specific violations, and the relative strength of the evidence.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)-

The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well‑qualified for this vacancy. To be well‑qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-

The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well‑qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA)

VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD‑214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.

Special Employment Consideration

Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service‑connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non‑competitive appointments. For further information, click on the links provided below. You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre‑accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov

OR

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional Information

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Selective Service:

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement:

Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case‑by‑case basis.

EEO Statement/Policy:

The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non‑merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.

Political Appointees (Current or Former):

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non‑Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.