Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota has reported collecting $3,496,288.47 in debts during Fiscal Year 2024. The collected amount includes $1,584,408.91 from criminal actions and $1,911,879.56 from civil actions. The office collaborated with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice to gather an additional $775,964.79.
Significant recoveries at the end of Calendar Year 2024 are not included in these totals. These recoveries include a $12.7 million settlement related to alleged False Claims Act violations involving Dunes Surgical Hospital and two physician groups, as well as $1.4 million paid toward restitution in a pandemic fraud prosecution.
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell emphasized the importance of these collections by stating, “Ensuring the collection of federal debt restores justice to victims of crime and reinforces the integrity of our governmental institutions.”
The Financial Litigation Unit within the U.S. Attorney’s Office initiated 14 new garnishment actions and closed 44 civil and criminal restitution cases where debts were fully paid to either federal victims or government entities.
One notable recovery involved reclaiming $52,561.75 from a borrower who violated his loan agreement with a local bank under the Farm Service Agency (FSA). In another case related to wire fraud conviction, $36,773.79 was recovered from an inheritance received by a defendant while in custody.
The responsibility for enforcing and collecting both civil and criminal debts owed to the United States falls on United States Attorney’s Offices along with the Department of Justice’s litigating divisions. Restitution is mandated by law for defendants whose crimes caused physical injury or financial loss to victims.
Restitution payments go directly to victims, whereas criminal fines and felony assessments contribute to the Department’s Crime Victims Fund which supports victim compensation and assistance programs at both federal and state levels.
