CASPER, Wyo. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office collected $1,996,578.60 in criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2024, according to a release from the department on Friday. Of this amount, about $1,740,300 was collected in criminal actions and about $256,195 was collected in civil actions.
All U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting on civil and criminal debts owed to the United States, and for restitution owed to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss, the U.S. Justice Department explained.
While restitution is paid out to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
An example from the District of Wyoming includes Defendant William Dean Decker, convicted of production of and possession child sexual abuse materials, a modern term for child pornography favored by advocates to eliminate the suggestion of possible consent.
Within two weeks of sentencing , the U.S. Attorney’s Office Financial Litigation Program under the supervision of District Civil Chief Levi Martin was able to recover the entire $144,902 owed in Decker’s case.
“This office is committed to aggressive collection efforts for fraud committed against the United States and for restitution owed to the victims of criminal cases,” Martin said in the release. “The FLP is rather efficient in locating debtors and their assets in order to satisfy the judgment amounts they owe as a result of their unlawful actions.”
