U.S. Attorney Announces Office Collects Over $2.3 Million

BOISE – United States Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that his office’s Financial Litigation Unit collected more than $1.6 million in criminal restitution, fines, and assessments and in civil debts for the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2019. In some cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked in conjunction with litigating components of the U.S. Department of Justice. Of the total collected, approximately $1.3 million were criminal restitution, fines, and/or assessments, and approximately $325,179 were civil debts. In addition, the Asset Forfeiture Unit collected approximately $721,211 in proceeds and instruments of crime in criminal and civil forfeiture actions.

“Our collection and asset forfeiture staff of attorneys, paralegals, analysts, and fiscal agents ensure that those who have caused loss to victims pay those victims back and ensure that those who have profited from committing crimes in the District of Idaho are deprived of the proceeds and tools of their crimes,” said Davis. “These same folks also ensure that those who owe the federal government money, as a result of litigation in this District or as a result of longtime debt, make appropriate payments. This year, all of these dedicated individuals have done outstanding work and served this office, the taxpayers, and this community well.”

Victims of crime receive funds collected in criminal restitution cases. In fiscal year 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, through the Financial Litigation Unit, collected over $1.168 million in criminal restitution that was or will be distributed to victims of crime. Other criminal collections such as fines go into the Crime Victims Fund. From there, funds are distributed to the Idaho Crime Victims Compensation Program, the Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance, and similar programs across the country. Money recovered from the illegal proceeds of criminal activity through forfeiture is returned to victims, used to offset the costs of operating federal prisons, and shared with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to help fight crime. Other recoveries go back to agency creditors.

During the fiscal year, some notable criminal restitution collections include approximately $150,600 paid by the defendant in a child pornography case and over $77,366 and $55,372 recovered from real estate sales and refinances to pay fraud restitution in two separate cases. In addition, over $24,382 was collected from the sale of a home in a child exploitation case to pay restitution. The Treasury Offset Program helped collected almost $200,000 toward restitution and fine debt.

Forfeitures valued at approximately $721,211 included currency, vehicles, and real property related to trafficking in controlled substances, fraud, child exploitation, and other serious crimes. Forfeitures also included approximately 146 firearms used or possessed during criminal activities. Forfeited firearms typically are destroyed, to prevent their use in future crimes. In some cases, the United States shared, or will share, seized money and property with local investigating agencies. In victim cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office works to direct proceeds of forfeiture to crime victims.

As for civil debts and penalties, the Financial Litigation Unit collects civil penalties for violations of regulations involving, among other things, controlled substances, environmental protection, damage to federal property, and procurement fraud. It also collects civil debts for defaulted loans.

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