U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart: Office Collects a Total of More Than $32 Million for Taxpayers in FYs 2019 & 2020 | USAO-SDWV

By On Feb 4, 2021

Office collections over budget

Exceed $ 18.4 million over two years

Collections over budget by more than 135% during the reporting period

CHARLESTON, W.Va. United States attorney Mike Stuart announced that his office raised $ 9,244,423.94 in FY 2020 and $ 22,761,541.52 in FY 2019, an amount exceeding $ 18.4 million over the entire annual budget of his office for the same period. Of that amount, $ 29,082,086.10 was raised in civil lawsuits and $ 2,923,879.33 in criminal proceedings. The US Attorney’s operating budget for the southern district of West Virginia was approximately $ 13.6 million for the period. The total collections exceeded the bureau’s budget by more than 135%.

“I am very proud of the incredible efforts made by my team. Over the past two fiscal years, our efforts have resulted in more than $ 18.4 million over the cost of all operations. In the private sector, that means “remarkably profitable”. A taxpayer return of more than 135% over two years is a return even the best companies would be proud of, but we don’t do this to make a profit. We don’t do this to make money. We do this to do justice to the victims, the taxpayers and our citizens, ”said US attorney Mike Stuart. “The $ 18.4 million, 135% return is a remarkable victory for victims and taxpayers. The $ 32 million my office has raised over the past two fiscal years shows the significant return on investment our work brings. The substantial amount only includes the amounts actually raised and not the full amount of funds due due to our great work. The realization of the restitution often takes many years. Taxpayers have benefited from great teamwork from my entire team and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state and local levels. We all share a responsibility to ensure that taxpayers’ money is used carefully and properly and that wrongdoers are held accountable for financial losses resulting from their crimes. “

The U.S. law firms, along with the Department’s litigation departments, are responsible for the enforcement and recovery of civil and criminal debts to the United States and criminal debts to victims of federal crimes. The law requires defendants to pay compensation to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered personal injury or financial loss. While the victim is being reimbursed, fines and offenses are paid to the Crime Victims Fund, which distributes funds to government victim compensation and victim support programs.

The largest civil law collections came from affirmative law enforcement cases in which the United States recovered government money lost through fraud or other misconduct, or fined individuals and / or companies for violating federal health, safety, civil rights, or environmental laws . In addition, civil debt was collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of Medicare and Medicaid, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Education .

A copy of this news release is available on the US Attorney’s website for the southern district of West Virginia.

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