U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina Collects $7,077,577.63 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2020, and $4.4 Million in Asset Forfeiture Actions | USAO-EDNC

By On Dec 24, 2020

RALEIGH – United States attorney Robert J. Higdon Jr. announced today that the Eastern District of North Carolina has filed criminal and civil charges of $ 7,077,577.63 in fiscal 2020. Of that amount, criminal charges of $ 3,728,529.18 and civil charges of $ 3,349,048.45 were incurred. In addition, more than $ 4.4 million in asset losses were accumulated.

In total, the Department of Justice raised more than $ 15.9 billion in civil and criminal justice in fiscal 2020, which ended September 30, 2020. The $ 15,988,516,670 of collections in fiscal 2020 is more than five times the budget of approximately $ 3.2 billion allocated for the 94 U.S. law firms and key Justice Department litigation departments have merged over the same period. The total includes all funds raised as a result of Justice Department-led enforcement efforts and negotiated civil settlements. It includes payments of more than $ 13.5 billion made directly to the Department of Justice and indirect payments of more than $ 2.4 billion to other federal agencies, states, and other designated recipients.

In an effort to stop the reckless dispensing of opioids and other controlled substances, the Eastern District of North Carolina received a civil fine of $ 600,000 from Farmville Discount Drugs and owner Robert L. Crocker for multiple violations of the law via controlled substances in which many people were involved its patrons at risk of severe addiction and overdose. The civil ruling against Farmville and Crocker and the permanent injunction resulted in everyone losing their license to dispense controlled substances.

In addition, the office has made aggressive efforts to seek reimbursement for crime victims ordered by the United States District Court, which has resulted in millions of dollars being raised for crime victims. For example, after pleading guilty of receiving child pornography, William Trevor Soloff was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment and a refund of $ 36,000 to victims of child pornography related to his crime and a $ 5,000 assessment -Dollars convicted under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. The Office has set up a 401 (k) account from Soloff to fully comply with the judgment.

“Our office is using every available tool in our arsenal to sue vigorously and aggressively collect victim refunds and fines and recover taxpayer money that is either lost through fraud or otherwise owed to government agencies,” said Higdon. “We are proud of the men and women in our office who work so hard to achieve justice through their quick and effective collection efforts.”

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 a refund is being paid to the victim, fines and offenses are paid to the ministry’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds raised to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina worked with partner agencies and departments to collect forfeiture suits for $ 4,445,776 in fiscal 2020. Forfeited assets deposited with the Department of Justice’s Property Forfeiture Fund can be used for a variety of purposes, including to aid law enforcement. In certain circumstances, they can also be used to restore funds to victims of crime. In fiscal 2020, for example, the Justice Department restored at least $ 1.1 million in assets forfeited by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. These assets were used to compensate victims of crimes prosecuted by this agency.

“The loss of assets that facilitate crime or are the fruits of crime deprives criminals of the means and reasons for their criminal activity,” Higdon said. “The loss of assets serves an important law enforcement interest. We will continue to aggressively pursue the money so we can financially disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations and return money to victims of crime. ”

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2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Ministry of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.