The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York reported a total collection of $39,262,324 from civil, criminal, and forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year 2024. This figure includes $14,085,025 from criminal actions, $15,874,944 from civil actions, and $9,302,354 from asset forfeiture actions.
Additionally, collaboration with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and Department of Justice components resulted in an extra $18,995,733 collected in jointly pursued cases. This amount comprises $39,092 from criminal actions and $18,956,641 from civil actions.
The role of the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices extends to enforcing and collecting debts owed to the United States as well as restitution for federal crime victims. Defendants are required by law to pay restitution to victims who have suffered physical injury or financial loss due to certain federal crimes. Restitution goes directly to victims while fines and felony assessments support the Crime Victims Fund which aids victim compensation programs.
Assets forfeited through legal proceedings contribute to the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund which supports victim compensation and law enforcement initiatives. In FY 2024 alone, $8,330,553 was applied toward compensating crime victims.
U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman remarked: “These are great results – every recovery of funds strikes a blow for justice." She expressed pride in the Asset Recovery Unit’s accomplishments since its inception in 2021.
Among notable recoveries this year was an $11.3 million settlement related to violations of the False Claims Act by Guidehouse Inc., along with Nan McKay and Associates for cybersecurity failures during a federal contract period meant to aid low-income New Yorkers seeking rental assistance amid COVID-19.
Earlier in February 2024, nearly $5 million was restored to fraud victims following convictions of Richard J. Sherwood and Thomas K. Lagan who embezzled approximately $11.8 million from estates managed on behalf of deceased individuals' beneficiaries including community organizations.
In September 2024 another recovery involved Derek R. Schwartz sentenced earlier that summer after conspiring alongside former ValueWise CEO Michael T Mann defrauding lending companies linked with ValueWise subsidiaries resulting in returning funds totaling one million dollars back towards affected financing firms.
The Asset Recovery Unit operates under a mission targeting proceeds derived via criminal activity while also securing property beneficial toward fulfilling restitution obligations plus overseeing collections tied both federally adjudicated crimes impacting citizens nationally alongside broader debt liabilities due accordingly respective governing entities herein stated territories involved throughout ongoing operational processes aligned therein directive mandates undertaken thereby those entrusted officials executing duties aligned respective organizational structure mentioned thereof encompassing participating personnel noted likewise assisting attorneys paralegals analysts supporting engagements requisite herein described functions delineated above therein collective remit respectively coordinated upon such endeavor instituted throughout said departmental frameworks provided aforementioned text narrative contextually encapsulated relevant informative datum aspects pertaining within 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