U.S. attorney Trent Shores announced today that the Northern District of Oklahoma raised $ 6,409,728.95 in criminal and civil lawsuits in fiscal 2020. Of that amount, $ 3,259,066.71 was raised in criminal lawsuits and $ 3,150,662.24 in civil lawsuits.
“The US Attorney’s Asset Recovery Unit is working diligently to ensure that the refunds and fines are paid in full and that civil financial obligations are met,” said US attorney Trent Shores. “The more than $ 6.4 million raised in criminal and civil lawsuits this year reflects our commitment to securing taxpayers’ resources and ensuring a comprehensive measure of justice, including financial reimbursement, compensation and Access to services related to victims. “
The US law firms, along with the Justice 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 defendants are legally required to pay compensation to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered personal injury or financial loss. While the reimbursement is paid directly to the victim, fines and offenses are paid to the Department of Justice’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to government compensation and assistance programs for victims.
Examples of the Northern District of Oklahoma Collection Efforts for Fiscal Year 2020:
- In 2018, the court ordered the loss of a Jack Clark’s property after he was convicted of filing false excise tax refund claims with the IRS in excess of $ 10,000,000. The refunds were used by the defendant, the former president of Clark Oil Distributors, Inc., to promote an extravagant lifestyle. In March 2020, the U.S. received $ 1,905,776.29 from the sale of one of these properties.
- Other examples of the loss include $ 67,000 and a vehicle from Operation Smack Dragon and guns from Operation Ice N Go valued at $ 7,500.
The Asset Recovery Unit also arranges the court-ordered reimbursement of reimbursements for victims of crime.
- In 2017, the court ordered Mark Long, a defendant who downloaded and viewed child pornography, to pay $ 24,000 in restitution to the children who became victims during the production of the pornography. Through the inmate financial responsibility program and a large payment after the defendant’s release from prison, the victims in this case were paid in full in fiscal 2020.
- In a second case, Barbara Jo Porter, a member of a philanthropic organization, used the organization’s credit card to withdraw cash for her personal use. During the sentencing, the court ordered the defendant to pay the organization US $ 20,232.35 in restitution. The defendant made its last payment in the 2020 financial year.
The Civil False Claims Act is an essential tool in protecting the integrity of tax-funded health programs and enables the government to recover losses it suffers through civil fines.
- In fiscal 2020, the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Department condemned such a penalty against a Louisiana medical assistant who accepted illegal pharmacy refund payments in exchange for recommending and prescribing compound drugs from OK Compounding. He entered into a settlement agreement with the United States and agreed to pay $ 620.508.36.
- In another settlement agreement, a Texas doctor agreed to pay the US $ 300,000 to clarify allegations under the False Claims Act that he accepted illegal kickback payments from OK Compounding. The settlement agreements resolved allegations against both men.
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 major 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.
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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.