PORTLAND, Maine — The U.S. attorney’s office in Maine collected more than $1.6 million related to criminal and civil actions in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
Most of that amount, nearly $1.1 million, was collected as a result of criminal prosecution, Thomas E. Delahanty II, Maine’s U.S. attorney announced Thursday in a press release. An additional $220,610 was collected as a result of criminal forfeitures.
The remaining amount of nearly $564,000 was collected in civil actions, the press release said.
“The U.S. attorney’s office is dedicated to protecting the public and recovering funds for the federal treasury and for victims of federal crime,” Delahanty said in the press release. “We will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit from their illegal activities.”
Nationwide, the U.S. attorneys’ offices collected $13.1 billion in criminal and civil actions between Oct. 1, 2011, and Sept. 20, 2012, more than doubling the $6.5 billion collected the previous fiscal year. A portion of this amount, $5.3 billion, was collected in shared cases in which one or more U.S. attorneys’ offices or department litigating divisions were also involved.
The $13.1 billion represents more than six times the appropriated budget of the combined 94 offices, according to the press release.
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. Statistics indicate that the total amount collected in criminal actions totaled $3.035 billion in restitution, criminal fines, and felony assessments.
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 directly to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs, the press release said.
For further information, the United States Attorneys’ Annual Statistical Reports can be found at www.justice.gov/usao/reading_room/foiamanuals.html.
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So where’s the money going? WHY do they get a line item budget amount when they can pay their own way and what percentage goes to each state’s rainy day fund?
Very GOOD question ………………….. just don’t hold your breath expecting an answer ……………….. or at least a truthful one.
Did you bother to read the article? The funds go to crime victims on the criminal side and to pay back taxpayer dollars on the civil side.
Comparison to other years would be a good thing.
legalize cannabis, and collect a heck of a lot more money in taxes..
Just how much money did the US Attorney”s Office “spend” to collect, the said money?