CHICAGO: In a rare US Department of Justice press conference in Illinois on Tuesday, officials showcased the recovery in less than a year of more than $1 billion by the Trade Fraud Task Force, the creation of which in August 2025 was spearheaded by prosecutions in 2008 by Andrew Boutros, shortly after he became assistant US attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
In April 2025, Boutros, an Egyptian American, was appointed US attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, but has faced intense criticism for his handling of the office, including allegations of improper crackdowns on people who entered the country illegally, and manipulation of grand juries to exclude unfavorable selections.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Colin McDonald, assistant US attorney general for the Fraud Enforcement Division, credited Boutros with making the largest financial recoveries and securing indictments under a crackdown originally known as “Operation Gold Rush,” which involved suspects and trade products originating from India and the UAE.
“The case that propelled us past the $1 billion-dollar milestone was brought right here in Chicago,” McDonald said, once again crediting Boutros.
“Defendants Raj and Veena Kohli allegedly smuggled huge amounts of gold jewelry into the United States and systematically lied to customs officials about the origin of the jewelry. These alleged lies allowed these defendants to evade more than $38 million in duties, undercutting domestic manufacturers and denying funding to vital public services.
