U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $36,913,638 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2022

Charlottesville, Va.- United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced today that the Western District of Virginia collected $36,913,638 in criminal, civil and joint actions in Fiscal Year 2022. Of this amount, $7,628,635 was collected in criminal actions in the Western District and $8,933,648 was collected in local civil actions. 

Additionally, the Western District of Virginia worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $20,351,355 in cases pursued jointly by these offices.      

“The Western District of Virginia’s substantial recoveries last year demonstrate our serious commitment to seeking restitution for the victims of crime and forfeiting the assets of those who profit from criminal activity,” United States Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “In the next year, we expect that this number will grow as we continue to hold defendants – both individuals and corporations – accountable for their crimes.”

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 United States 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 collected to federal and state victim compensation and assistance programs.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Virginia, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $22,168,509 in asset forfeiture actions in fiscal year 2022. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.