ASSETS SEIZED TO PAY COURT ORDERED RESTITUTION
A Cadillac Escalade suv, a BMW 745i automobile, a Ford F-350 pick-up, a Takeuchi Skid Steer, a Kenworth (semi truck) tractor, and a Kobelco 300 excavator were all seized from Michael Collins in order to help satisfy the court ordered restitution, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
United States Attorney Wigginton emphasized that: “My office, working with the United States Marshal, and other investigating agencies, will take aggressive action to pursue the collection of unpaid criminal fines and restitution. The commitment to make the victims of crime whole is a never ending responsibility that we take very seriously. We will always pursue any collection of these types of judgments.”
Michael Collins was sentenced on April 13, 2011, as a result of his convictions (after a jury trial) for income tax evasion, failure to file income tax returns, and election fraud. His sentence included 50 months imprisonment and an order to pay restitution of $342,375.14. In order to partially satisfy the restitution judgment, the United States Marshal, working with the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, seized these assets from Collins. The assets will be sold and the proceeds used to partially pay the criminal monetary penalties imposed in the case.
