U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko | U.S. Department of Justice
In the fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio reported collections totaling $27,882,120.34 from civil and criminal actions. This included $12,537,202.34 in civil damages and penalties owed to the United States and $15,344,918 collected for criminal restitution to victims of federal crimes.
The office also forfeited $7,701,470 in assets linked to criminal activities during FY 2024. These assets are deposited into funds used to restore money to crime victims and support law enforcement initiatives. Including these forfeitures, the total amount collected by the office reached $35,583,590.34.
U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko commented on the efforts of her team: “Every year, dedicated USAO employees work hard to collect debts owed to the government based on false claims, environmental damage, controlled-substance violations, and the like, and return that money to the U.S. taxpayers. They also work to recover money for victims of crime to make them whole and ensure that justice is served from a financial perspective.” She added that their collection efforts were "tremendously successful" in FY 2024.
Noteworthy civil cases included settlements with organizations such as Cleveland Clinic Foundation which paid $7.6 million for False Claims Act allegations related to federal grant applications and progress reports; Ohio Refining Co., Chevron USA Inc., Energy Transfer (R&M) LLC among others settled historic industrial pollution discharge allegations near Toledo for over $7 million; Republic Steel paid over $1 million as part of a consent decree resolving Clean Air Act allegations.
On the criminal side, significant cases involved individuals like Aydin Kalantarov who was ordered to pay nearly $7.8 million in restitution for wire fraud and identity theft; Matthew Maluchnik who was sentenced for healthcare fraud with restitution set at over $941 thousand; Christopher Hardin was ordered to pay more than $671 thousand in restitution for mail fraud.
The Department of Justice's 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are tasked with enforcing and collecting debts owed due to civil and criminal actions across the nation. Restitution payments are directed towards victims while fines contribute to programs supporting victim compensation.
