Tara K. McGrath, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath has announced that the Southern District of California collected a total of $18,932,200 in criminal and civil actions during Fiscal Year 2024. This amount includes $7,364,438 from criminal actions and $11,567,761 from civil actions.
The district also collaborated with other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice to collect an additional $22,465,562 in joint cases. From these cases, $2,714.08 was collected in criminal actions and $22,462,848 in civil actions.
“When a crime leads to financial ruin, we are committed to helping victims recover and rebuild their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Over the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborated with investigators to streamline the process for victims to recover lost funds, prioritizing swift and meaningful restitution.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the department’s litigating divisions are tasked with enforcing and collecting both civil and criminal debts owed to the United States as well as criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law mandates that defendants must pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is directed towards victims, criminal fines and felony assessments contribute to the department’s Crime Victims Fund which supports federal and state victim compensation and assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California collected $69,911,795 through asset forfeiture actions in FY 2024. These forfeited assets are deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund which aids in restoring funds to crime victims and supports various law enforcement activities.
