U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV | U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky reported collections exceeding $40 million in fiscal year 2024. This amount was amassed through efforts aimed at compensating crime victims and protecting taxpayer funds. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV.
"Our enforcement of the law includes pursuing restitution for victims of crime, recovering illegally obtained funds, and protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste, and abuse," stated Shier. He praised his office's staff for their dedication to these objectives.
The Financial Litigation Program within the office collected over $14 million in civil and criminal debts owed to the United States, along with criminal restitution debts meant for federal crime victims suffering physical injury or financial loss. Funds from criminal fines are directed to the Department of Justice’s Crime Victims Fund, supporting both federal and state victim compensation programs.
Asset forfeitures also contributed significantly in fiscal year 2024, yielding more than $4 million for federal law enforcement activities and sharing over $1.5 million with state and local agencies. An additional sum of nearly half a million dollars was restored to crime victims.
Moreover, the Civil Division collected more than $1.3 million on behalf of taxpayers concerning property where the government holds a lien.
The Affirmative Civil Enforcement program successfully secured civil settlements and judgments worth over $20 million. A substantial portion came from enforcing the False Claims Act, which penalizes false claims against the U.S., thereby safeguarding various government programs. Some settlements involved penalties under the Controlled Substances Act due to healthcare providers' violations related to controlled substances diverted into illegal markets.
