FIRST ON FOX: Vice President JD Vance will announce today that the federal anti-fraud task force he leads has identified $40 million in welfare fraud and more than 40 suspects behind the alleged schemes.

A source familiar with the charges told Fox News Digital that Vance will reveal criminal charges as part of the administration’s continued crackdown on rampant fraud across the country.

The latest discovery brings the amount of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud Vance's team has uncovered to $641 million. More than 1,000 retailers have been banned from the program for violations including criminal trafficking of benefits, while nearly 5,000 others have been suspended and fined a combined $44 million for administrative violations.

FBI RETURNS 'MOST WANTED' FRAUDSTER TO US AFTER INDIA ARREST IN ALLEGED $600K SNAP FOOD STAMP SCHEME

The administration has destroyed more than 2,200 illegal point-of-sale devices and disabled more than 2,000 compromised retailer authorization numbers. Officials estimate those actions have prevented more than $5 billion in potential fraudulent transactions, according to the source.

SNAP is a federally funded food assistance program that helps eligible low-income households buy groceries. Benefits are loaded monthly onto an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, which recipients can use at authorized retailers to purchase qualifying food.

WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE MAP TRACKING BILLIONS IN SUSPECTED FRAUD

Criminal charges brought against the defendants, however, do not guarantee the government can recover the funds.

During a Fox News Digital exclusive interview in August, Vance said that recouping the money presents yet another challenge, since much of it has already been spent.

"Getting money back is very hard," Vance said. "Once it's gone out the door, it's very hard to get it back."

"What we've done most effectively is actually just stop the money from going out the door in the first place, because that's the only real way to ensure the American people don't lose it."

WHITE HOUSE PUSHES 'WATERSHED' FRAUD-FIGHTING REFORM IN CONGRESS AS VANCE CONVENES TASK FORCE

The task force has reported $260.7 billion in fraud uncovered since Trump took office, and $72 billion in fraud stopped on an annualized basis.

The news comes just a day after Vance and independent journalist Nick Shirley joined President Donald Trump in the Oval Office to announce the administration will be offering Americans, including journalists, cash rewards for tips that help bring fraudsters to justice.

TRUMP'S WAR ON FRAUD EXPANDS AS TREASURY LAUNCHES NEW SITE WITH WHISTLEBLOWER INCENTIVES

Trump unveiled the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program and said qualifying tipsters would receive a 1% commission, subject to applicable laws and rules.

"If you turn somebody in and you, let's say report, and you find $1 billion, we are giving a commission to that person of 1%," Trump said.

At the end of last year, reports and social media coverage by Shirley exposed a network of daycare centers, like the "Quality Learing (sic) Center," that were allegedly fraudulent and operated mostly by Somali immigrants.

The reports sparked swift action from the administration, and former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem deployed DHS and ICE agents to the streets of Minneapolis to catch and deport Somali immigrants in the country illegally. The deployment sparked a clash between local residents and federal agents that exploded into violent riots across the Twin Cities.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump has previously praised Shirley’s work, telling him: "He's done an amazing job."

EXCLUSIVE: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a nationwide operation targeting illegal immigrants accused of fraudulently obtaining benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), resulting in multiple arrests, Fox News has learned.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the operation to Fox News, announcing several arrests of illegal immigrants accused of fraudulently receiving SNAP benefits.

"Illegal aliens who have no right to be here in the first place are the last people who should be using SNAP benefits and other forms of welfare," Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.

"These programs are for Americans only," he continued. "Even non-violent illegal alien crime can still have devastating consequences when they’re defrauding the American taxpayer."

TRUMP ADMIN’S FRAUD CRACKDOWN TARGETS FOREIGNERS ACCUSED OF INFILTRATING US FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Mullin said those already apprehended and deported by federal authorities represented "just a drop in the bucket," adding that the Trump administration would continue pursuing individuals accused of fraud.

DHS identified several illegal immigrants accused of SNAP fraud, including multiple Haitian nationals.

According to federal officials, Rubstony Junior Theodore, a Haitian national living illegally in the United States, was arrested by ICE as part of the operation. Theodore's criminal history includes arrests for larceny, obstruction of officers and trespassing, DHS said.

Three other Haitian nationals living illegally in the United States — Wilbert Jean Baptiste, Louis Jean and Jhensly Charles — were also arrested, according to DHS.

ICE PREPARES MAJOR OPERATION TARGETING HAITIANS LOSING TPS AFTER SUPREME COURT RULING

Elizabeth Povea Rodriguez, a Cuban national living illegally in the United States who was previously convicted of disorderly conduct and arrested on battery and domestic violence allegations, was also arrested, according to DHS.

"These arrests mark the opening salvo in a sustained, large-scale ICE operation specifically targeting illegal aliens who have fraudulently accessed SNAP benefits that American taxpayers fund exclusively for U.S. citizens in need," DHS said.

"Every one of these individuals entered the country unlawfully, then proceeded to draw from a program designed to feed struggling American families, in some cases while carrying criminal records," the agency continued.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Federal law generally bars immigrants living in the country illegally from receiving SNAP benefits, although certain categories of lawfully present noncitizens may qualify for the program.

DHS said the Trump administration would continue targeting alleged SNAP fraud as part of a broader crackdown on misuse of federal benefits.

A Honduran national who federal authorities say was unlawfully present in the United States allegedly climbed onto his truck and repeatedly swung a hammer at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a traffic stop in New Jersey this month, federal prosecutors said.

Reinieri De Jesus Licona Amador, 27, was charged with assaulting federal officers and appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal in Camden federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.

"Federal officers put themselves in harm’s way to enforce the law and protect the public," U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said in a statement.

"When an individual responds to a traffic stop by attacking an officer with a hammer, that conduct threatens not only the officer’s safety but the rule of law itself," he continued. "We will not allow violent attacks on federal officers to go unanswered and will hold those responsible accountable under the law."

EXCLUSIVE: DHS SECRETARY MULLIN SLAMS SANCTUARY POLITICIANS AS ATTACKS ON ICE OFFICERS SKYROCKET

Federal prosecutors said the incident began during a targeted ICE operation in Gibbsboro, when officers ran a license plate check on a truck traveling through the area.

According to the criminal complaint, the vehicle was registered to Licona Amador, and a search of immigration records indicated he lacked lawful status in the United States.

Officers then activated their emergency lights and pulled over Licona Amador's truck, prosecutors said.

ILLEGAL ALIEN ON THE RUN AFTER ALLEGEDLY RAMMING ICE VEHICLE IN PENNSYLVANIA, PROMPTING AGENT TO FIRE WEAPON

According to the complaint, as officers approached the truck, they saw Licona Amador reach into a tool container in the back seat and pick up a hammer.

Prosecutors said officers ordered Licona Amador to stop moving, but he refused to comply, prompting them to open the vehicle door and attempt to remove him from the truck.

He allegedly pulled away from the officers and moved to the passenger side of the truck, where they again tried unsuccessfully to restrain him.

Licona Amador then climbed out of the passenger side of the truck while holding the hammer, ignoring officers' repeated commands, according to the complaint.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUSPECTED OF GANG TIES ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY RAMMING ICE OFFICER

He allegedly climbed onto the passenger-side door and repeatedly swung the hammer at officers, prosecutors said.

Officers then deployed oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, commonly known as pepper spray, and wrestled Licona Amador to the ground, prosecutors said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

He was arrested without injury and faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of assaulting federal officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

When police were searching for his missing wife, Gurinder Gill allegedly told them Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested her when she went out to bring in the mail at their home in Sacramento, California.

Days earlier, however, authorities in neighboring El Dorado County found burned and buried remains that were later identified as hers.

Now Gill, 28, is charged with the murder of his 30-year-old wife, Jasmine Gill, an India-born nurse and mother of their 8-month-old child.

ALABAMA MOTHER SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR HIRING HITMAN TO KILL HER CHILD'S FATHER OVER CUSTODY DISPUTE

They were going through a divorce and child custody dispute when she vanished, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.

She had last been seen on Sept. 30. Her cousin reported her missing on Oct. 4.

MAN WHOSE WIFE VANISHED YEARS AGO NOW CUFFED IN SEPARATE COLD CASE – AUTHORITIES SAY HIS PAST WAS DEADLY

"As the investigation progressed, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office detectives identified several inconsistencies in Gurinder’s statements about his wife’s disappearance," Sgt. Edward Igoe, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said in a statement.

After Sacramento detectives contacted Gurinder Gill, they attempted to vet his claim with ICE.

ICE LODGES DETAINER FOR ILLEGAL MIGRANT CHARGED WITH STRANGLING WIFE AND DUMPING BODY NEAR OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS

"Detectives contacted ICE, which confirmed that no enforcement activity had occurred at the residence," Igoe said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE FOX TRUE CRIME HUB

On Oct. 1, investigators found burned and buried remains about 70 miles away from the couple's Sacramento residence.

TEEN FOUND IN SHALLOW CALIFORNIA VINEYARD GRAVE IDENTIFIED NEARLY 50 YEARS LATER AS FAMILY WARNS KILLER

According to the Sacramento County sheriff, the remains in El Dorado were confirmed to belong to Jasmine Gill.

GOT A TIP?

Deputies arrested her husband on Oct. 14 and executed search warrants at two homes he is associated with. He is ineligible for bail.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

According to a GoFundMe campaign set up for Jasmine Gill's family, she was born in India, where her mother still lives. Jasmine Gill became a registered nurse to follow in her mom's footsteps and had an 8-month-old.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

Supporters have so far raised more than $21,000 in an effort to return her remains to her mother and to help raise her son.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"She was fighting for a better future for herself and her baby," the campaign reads. "She was seeking a divorce. She was trying to find the freedom, safety, and fresh start they both deserved. Tragically, before she could build that future, Jasmine was murdered, leaving behind the very child she was fighting so hard to protect."