Under pressure to look at possible criminal activity in the financial markets, the FBI is expanding its corporate fraud inquiries in the wake of the the financial crisis, officials said Tuesday. The New York Times, citing a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly, said the F.B.I. has now opened preliminary investigations into possible fraud involving the four giant corporations at the center of the recent turmoil – Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers and American International Group. The total number of corporate fraud investigations at the bureau was 26, an increase from the 24 open cases cited just a week ago by FBI Director Robert Mueller.

September 26, 2008