Federal Authorities Foil Scheme To Sell N95 Masks To U.S. Hospitals

In March, a scheme involving nonexistent N95 masks was uncovered. The Service Employees International Union United Healthcare Workers West claimed to have found a distributor for 39 million masks. The Justice Department investigated, suspecting fraud. The FBI identified a Pennsylvania man as a middleman, with connections to a broker in Australia and a supplier in Kuwait. Authorities believe the masks never existed, and the scheme was stopped before any money was exchanged. The broker and supplier may face federal charges.

What was the Justice Department's interest regarding the mask distribution?

What was the outcome of the scheme before any money exchanged hands?