Reasonable minds can (and certainly do) differ on the value of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. While critics may argue that the conflicts have accomplished nothing, they have indisputably served at least one purpose: They have extended the statute of limitations for criminal fraud claims asserted by the government in a case in Boston.
In U.S. v. Prosperi , the defendants were charged with conspiracy, mail fraud and making false statements in connection with the “Big Dig.” The defendants argued that counts based on conduct that occurred more than five years prior to the indictment were time-barred. In response, the government argued that the Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act tolled the statute of limitations. The Suspension Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3287, states: “When the United States is at war the running of any statute of limitations applicable to any offense (1) involving fraud or attempted fraud against the United States or any agency thereof… shall be suspended until three years after the termination of hostilities as proclaimed by the President or by a concurrent resolution of Congress.”
