Lucy Lang Releases Plan To Address Economic Crimes As Manhattan District Attorney

Lang To Create Centralized Economic Crimes Bureau and Compliance & Investigation Bureau

March 1, 2021

Today, Manhattan District Attorney candidate Lucy Lang released a comprehensive plan to tackle economic crimes in the City. The plan would establish a centralized bureau within the Manhattan district attorney’s office to investigate and prosecute economic crimes and frauds, including tax fraud, money laundering, securities and investment fraud, wage theft, schemes to defraud the elderly, and more. Lang is also the only candidate to establish a strict equal access policy to ensure that no one being investigated or charged with a crime gets special access or preferential treatment – no matter who they are or how powerful their attorney is.

As part of her plan, Lang will centralize the work of the Major Economic Crimes Bureau and Financial Frauds Bureau into a single Economic Crimes Bureau, which will streamline resources and increase productivity, and increase availability of senior assistant district attorneys to investigate and prosecute white-collar crimes that directly harm many New Yorkers. Lang will create specialized units within the Economic Crimes Bureau to focus on specific classes of criminal activity, including a Tax Fraud Unit, Elder Abuse Unit, Worker Protection Unit, Immigrant Affairs Unit, and Animal Welfare Unit, to ensure all victims receive the justice they deserve.

In order to foster collaboration and ensure the highest ethical standards are maintained, Lang will also create a Compliance and Investigation Bureau, combining the Financial Intelligence Unit, International Money Movement Center, Cyber Intelligence Unit, Counterterrorism Program, Privilege Review Unit, High Technology Analysis Unit, Discovery Compliance Unit and Investigator Unit.

Finally, Lang will make it easier for New Yorkers to report economic crimes by establishing in-person case intake, both downtown and uptown, in addition to phone and virtual intake. This will also provide an additional way to report crime, for those who may not feel comfortable reporting to the NYPD.

“New York City is the financial capital of the world, and the Manhattan district attorney’s office must be equipped to handle the wide range of economic crimes that far too often have been excused as part of doing business but that, in reality, have directly and indirectly harmed New Yorkers and exploited vulnerable communities,” said Manhattan District Attorney Candidate Lucy Lang. “By establishing a centralized Economic Crimes Bureau, we can ensure that every resource at our disposal is being utilized to bring justice to victims and hold those who commit economic crimes accountable. New Yorkers deserve to know that all people in the justice system will be treated equally – no matter who their lawyer is. Power and wealth can never be a defense for wrongdoing.”

To learn more about Lucy’s priorities, visit her plans page.