In a nationwide effort, officials file criminal charges against individuals allegedly responsible for $2.3 billion in fraud. 'These schemes are despicable; they are dangerous to our economy,' Atty. Gen. Eric Holder says. Federal officials said Thursday they had filed criminal charges against more than 1,200 people allegedly responsible for $2.3 billion in mortgage fraud as part of a major nationwide crackdown of abuses stemming from the housing market collapse.