U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko | U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Ohio has reported the forfeiture of $7,701,470 in criminal assets for fiscal year 2024. These assets were collected from investigations across 40 northern counties in Ohio. The district operates out of Cleveland with additional offices in Akron, Toledo, and Youngstown.
By the end of FY24, over $50 million worth of assets were still awaiting forfeiture orders. These included cash, cryptocurrency, vehicles, real estate, and jewelry seized from 214 cases involving criminal, civil judicial, and administrative proceedings.
Rebecca Lutzko, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio stated: “Asset forfeiture is a vital tool that we use to punish criminals and financially deter, disrupt or dismantle criminal activity and criminal organizations.” She emphasized the importance of returning money lost by victims due to fraudulent schemes.
In FY24, $11,077,758 was designated for restitution to crime victims. Some forfeited assets were placed into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund (AFF), established in 1984 by the Comprehensive Crime Control Act. The AFF supports victim compensation and law enforcement expenses related to asset management. Additionally, funds are shared with local law enforcement agencies contributing to federal investigations; this year saw $10,523,635 distributed among 83 agency partners.
Significant cases include:
- **United States v. Christen Clark**: Clark pled guilty to drug and gun violations leading to the forfeiture of over $1 million and a vehicle.
- **United States v. Rocco Ferruccio**: Involved illegal gambling operations resulting in over $1 million being forfeited.
- **United States v. Christos Karasarides**: Related gambling case led to nearly half a million dollars being seized.
- **United States v. Kevin Clay**: Healthcare fraud case resulted in significant financial penalties including property seizure.
- **United States v. 947,883 Tether (“USDT”)**: A civil complaint regarding elder fraud involving cryptocurrency valued at approximately $947,883.
All defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt as per legal standards.
The Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program aims to dismantle criminal enterprises by denying them proceeds from illegal activities through collaboration with various law enforcement agencies nationwide.
