In the aftermath of the 2008 housing market crash, Operation Malicious Mortgage stood as one of the most significant federal initiatives aimed at addressing widespread mortgage fraud that fueled the crisis. Conducted between March 1 and June 18, 2008, this multi-agency operation tackled systemic corruption and fraudulent practices deeply entrenched in the mortgage and real estate industries. Spearheaded by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the effort uncovered a nationwide wave of financial crimes, resulting in 406 defendants being charged across 144 separate cases throughout the United States.