U.S. Attorney’s Office In The Middle District Of Alabama Collects Over $2.4 Million In Civil And Criminal Actions In 2013

Montgomery, Alabama - U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr. announced today that the Middle District of Alabama collected over $2.4 million in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2013. Of this amount, $2,332,163 was collected in criminal actions and $69,688 was collected in civil actions.

Additionally, Middle District of Alabama worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $150,753 in criminal actions pursued jointly with these offices.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced on Thursday that the Justice Department collected $8 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2013. The more than $8 billion in collections in FY 2013 represents nearly three times the appropriated $2.76 billion budget for the 94 U.S. Attorney’s offices and the main litigating divisions in that same period.

“The department’s enforcement actions help to not only ensure justice is served, but also deliver a valuable return to the American people,” said Attorney General Holder. “It is critical that Congress provide the resources necessary to match the department’s mounting caseload. As these figures show, supporting our federal prosecutors is a sound investment.”

“During this time of hard economic times, these collections are more important than ever,” said U.S. Attorney Beck. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to protecting the public and recovering funds for victims of crime as well as for the federal treasury. We will continue to hold accountable, both civilly and criminally, those who seek to make money from illegal activities.”

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.

PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: usaalm.press@usdoj.gov
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617