U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky Collects Over $104 Million in Fiscal Year 2024

Louisville, KY- U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office collected $104.8 million in Fiscal Year 2024, which includes $9,239,721.20 in criminal restitution, $95,604,774.97 in civil actions, and $2,441,761 through asset forfeiture.

The Office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $23,133,763.62 in matters pursued jointly by these offices. 

“Due to extraordinary teamwork in our district in both our Criminal and Civil Divisions, last year federal crime victims received more than $9 million in compensation for their financial losses, and federal agencies recouped more than $95 million in fraudulently-obtained funds and delinquent civil debt,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “I am extremely proud of our Office’s dedication to track down every possible dollar from perpetrators, fraudsters, and those who refuse to pay their federal obligations. Through outstanding collection efforts, our Office has provided meaningful recoveries to crime victims and the federal taxpayers we serve.”

Last year, the Western District of Kentucky recovered significant criminal restitution for victims, including those injured by crop insurance fraud, employee-related theft, and health care fraud.

Of the over $95 million collected through civil actions, most of the recoveries were collected through actions brought pursuant to the False Claims Act, which permits the United States to recover up to three times the amount of money fraudulently obtained from government programs. The District’s civil recoveries also include $2.5 million for federal agencies in state and federal foreclosures. 

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts, fines, and assessments owed to the federal government and criminal restitution owed to 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 assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and assistance programs.

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