Welcome FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge – Christopher J. S. Johnson
FBI Springfield Press Office (217) 522-9675 Share on Twitter Twitter Share on Facebook Facebook Email Email FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 29, 2024 National Press Office (202) 324 - 3691 www.fbi.gov Christopher J.S. Johnson Named Special Agent in Charge of the Springfield Field Office Director Christopher Wray has named Christopher J.S. Johnson as the special agent in charge of the Springfield Field Office in Illinois. Mr. Johnson most recently served as an inspector in the Inspection Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Mr. Johnson joined the FBI as a special agent in 2004 and was first assigned to the Detroit Field Office, working violent crimes and crimes against children. In 2009, Mr. Johnson was promoted to supervisory special agent and worked in the Crimes Against Children Unit in the Criminal Investigative Division at FBI Headquarters. In 2010, Mr. Johnson transferred to the St. Louis Field Office, where he continued to work violent crime and crimes against children, as well as issues related to violent gangs. The next year, Mr. Johnson joined the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team. The CARD Team currently includes 75 agents, analysts, and other Bureau personnel from across the country, and teaches local law enforcement officers how to respond to child abductions. Local law enforcement can also contact their local FBI office and ask for assistance from the CARD team when a child disappears. Mr. Johnson eventually became a CARD Team leader for the North Central and South Central regions. Mr. Johnson returned to the St. Louis Field Office in 2014 and supervised a squad that investigated violent gangs and transnational organized crime matters. In 2017, while still in St. Louis, Mr. Johnson supervised another squad that investigated violent crime, violent crimes against children, and transnational organized crime from a different region. In 2020, Mr. Johnson was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of the Detroit Field Office’s Mission Services and Administrative Branch. In 2022, Mr. Johnson was selected to serve as an inspector in the Inspection Division at Headquarters. Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Johnson worked as a police officer in the St. Louis metropolitan area in Missouri. He earned bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and in psychology from Saint Louis University and a master’s of management degree from Webster University in Missouri. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX The Following Op-Ed by FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge David Nanz Was Published in the State Journal RegisterTo address economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Government authorized approximately $5 trillion in relief programs. These programs included the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which allowed businesses to apply for forgivable loans to pay for payroll and other expenses; the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), which permitted businesses to apply for low interest loans to be used for working capital and other normal expenses; and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which was intended for employees who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.Unfortunately, many thousands of people chose to steal from these programs by submitting fraudulent applications. The theft was massive in scale. The U.S. Small Business Administration inspector general estimates $136 billion in fraud from the EIDL and $64 billion in fraud from the PPP. For FPUC, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates more than $100 billion in fraud. Combined, these losses make the fraud the largest in history. Ultimately, these losses will be paid by American taxpayers, and worse, because most of the money was borrowed by the U.S. Government, our children and even grandchildren will be on the hook. How did some fraudsters spend their stolen money? Some bought real estate, luxury vehicles like Lamborghini and Ferraris, luxury goods like Rolex watches and jewelry, gold coins, and diamonds. While others used the money in strip clubs, gambling trips to Las Vegas, private jet charters, and bucket-list vacations. The FBI has been working diligently to hold these thieves accountable. By collaborating with our partners and utilizing intelligence-driven strategies, we have opened thousands of investigations across the country targeting COVID-19 related fraud. Just in the FBI’s Springfield Field Office, which covers central and southern Illinois, our team of dedicated special agents, intelligence analysts, and forensic accountants are working investigations which have led to the charging of dozens of subjects. Recently, one of our investigations led to 19 U.S. Postal Service employees and former employees in central Illinois being charged with defrauding the PPP by claiming bogus expenses in fictitious businesses. In another FBI Springfield investigation, three Peoria men were convicted of defrauding the PPP by claiming to operate barber shops. However, none of them had a registered barber shop, employees, payroll, or business-related expenses, and none were licensed barbers. Besides the obvious importance of holding criminals accountable, the FBI’s investigative efforts targeting COVID-19 related fraud also sends a vital message: people cannot steal money from American taxpayers with impunity. We still have a long way to go to hold more perpetrators accountable, and given the size and scope of the fraud, the FBI and our law enforcement partners cannot do it alone. So, we ask if you have information on those who defrauded these pandemic relief programs, contact the FBI. To report fraud, go to www.ic3.gov or contact FBI Springfield at 217-522-9675. FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge – David Nanz |
