US Attorney’s Office Collects Over Six Million In Fiscal Year 2012

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that the US Attorney’s Office in South Dakota collected over $6.3 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 from civil and criminal actions.  That amount reflects an increase of more than $2 million over FY 2011 collections.

Of the $6.3 million, over $5.8 million was recovered through criminal fines, restitution, and other assessments and penalties.  Civil recoveries accounted for the other $503,289. 

Nationwide, the U.S. Attorneys’ offices collected $13.1 billion in criminal and civil actions during FY 2012, more than doubling the $6.5 billion collected in FY 2011.   The $13.1 billion represents more than six times the appropriated budget of the combined 94 offices for FY 2012.

“These collections become increasingly important in these times of fiscal uncertainty,” said Johnson. “I am grateful to our dedicated team of professionals who work tirelessly in their efforts to recover money for victims of federal crime and to safeguard the American public’s money.”

The majority of the money collected by the US Attorney’s Office is returned directly to the United States Treasury.  However, restitution collected in criminal cases goes directly to compensate victims for their losses.  Criminal fines and felony assessments are paid into the Department of Justice’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.