U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $3.89 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2023

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced today that the Northern District of Oklahoma (NDOK) collected $3,891,104.49 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, $2,516,899.27 was collected in criminal actions and $1,374,205.22 was collected in civil actions. 

Additionally, the NDOK worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $14,977,950.60 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $1,266.60 was collected in criminal actions and $14,976,684.00 was collected in civil actions.         

“The Financial Litigation Program/ The Asset Recovery Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office ensures that court ordered restitution is paid to victims, fines are collected, and civil financial obligations are met. In fiscal year 2023, this team of federal prosecutors, investigators, and professional legal staff diligently worked to collect almost $4 million on behalf of taxpayers and victims of crime,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

For example, in June 2023, the Asset Recovery Unit recovered over $225,000 in court ordered fines, restitution and a money judgment from Scott Wayne Jarman. Jarman plead guilty and was sentenced for two False Statements to the United States Small Business Administration for COVID fraud.

In July 2023, the Financial Litigation Program recovered $60,000 from Raymond Dudley. Dudley was sentenced for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country and Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Dudley’s monetary penalties were court ordered and received for the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) Assessment. The funds also go towards victim services including the Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund administered by the Attorney General.

In October 2023, the Financial Litigation Program recovered almost $60,000 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA) upon the conviction of Kelly Dawson for Theft of Government Property. Dawson plead guilty in Jun. 2023 for collecting SSA funds on behalf of his children whom he placed in a group home. 

In November 2023, the Asset Recovery Unit recovered $134,325.69 on behalf of the victim in Matthew William Cook’s embezzlement; as well as $134,325.69 in payment of a forfeiture money judgment. Cook plead guilty in Aug. 2022 for wire fraud after creating a scheme to defraud his employer. 

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in NDOK, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $407,741.00 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2023. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.