U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky announced that the United States Attorney’s Office collected $104.8 million in Fiscal Year 2024. This total includes $9,239,721.20 in criminal restitution, $95,604,774.97 from civil actions, and $2,441,761 through asset forfeiture.
The office also collaborated with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to gather an additional $23,133,763.62 in joint efforts.
"Due to extraordinary teamwork in our district in both our Criminal and Civil Divisions," said U.S. Attorney Bennett, "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." He expressed pride in the office's commitment to recover funds from perpetrators and those avoiding federal obligations: "Through outstanding collection efforts, our Office has provided meaningful recoveries to crime victims and the federal taxpayers we serve."
In the past year, significant criminal restitution was recovered for victims affected by crop insurance fraud, employee-related theft, and health care fraud.
Of the over $95 million collected through civil actions, most were recovered under the False Claims Act. This act allows the United States to reclaim up to three times the amount fraudulently obtained from government programs. The district's civil recoveries also included $2.5 million for federal agencies involved in state and federal foreclosures.
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work alongside the Department’s litigating divisions to enforce and collect civil and criminal debts owed to the federal government as well as criminal restitution owed to victims. The law mandates defendants pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered physical injury or financial loss. While restitution goes directly to victims, criminal fines are directed into the Department’s Crime Victims Fund which supports victim compensation and assistance programs at both federal and state levels.
