Matthew Schneider, Money Laundering, Michigan 2019

DETROIT – In a stunning display of law enforcement prowess, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider announced that the Eastern District of Michigan collected a whopping $90,585,906 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2019. The staggering figure is a testament to the tireless efforts of the prosecutors and trial attorneys in the office.

According to Schneider, the office recovered over three times the amount of money spent in their annual budget of $29 million. The funds recovered will be returned to victims and taxpayers, bringing much-needed relief to those affected by crime.

The Eastern District of Michigan worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $5,990,117 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $38,009.96 was collected in criminal actions and $5,952,107 was collected in civil actions.

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 U.S. 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 victim assistance programs.

Furthermore, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Eastern District of Michigan, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $14,168,249 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2019. 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.

The impressive figures are a result of the office’s dedication to bringing perpetrators to justice and recovering lost funds. Schneider’s statement that the prosecutors and trial attorneys in the office worked tirelessly every day to achieve these results is a testament to their hard work and commitment to public service.

In conclusion, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Eastern District of Michigan has demonstrated exceptional success in enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and federal crime victims. The recovered funds will undoubtedly bring much-needed relief to those affected by crime and serve as a reminder of the importance of law enforcement in protecting our communities.