Idaho U.S. Attorney’s Office Releases Detailed Report on Money Collected

BOISE, Idaho (KLIX) The United States Attorney's Office for Idaho announced how much it's Financial Litigation Unit collected within the fiscal year. Attorney Wendy Olson says her office collected upwards of $12.25 million in civil debts and criminal fines, assessments and restitution for 2016 and 2015. Her office broke it down:

• $1,584,902.42 in criminal fines, assessments, and restitution
• $10,671,716.97 in civil debts.
• The Asset Forfeiture Unit collected approximately $1,195,121 representing proceeds and instruments of crime in both criminal and civil forfeitures.

“The more than $13 million our staff collected through civil debts, asset forfeiture, fines, assessments and restitution exceeds the U.S. Attorney's Office's annual operational budget,” said Olson.  “Our collection and asset forfeiture staffs of attorneys, paralegals, analysts and fiscal agents ensure that those who owe the federal government money as a result of litigation in this district or as a result of longtime debt, such as student loans, make appropriate payments.  They also ensure that those who have profited from committing crimes in the District of Idaho are deprived of the proceeds and tools of their crimes.  This year, all of these dedicated individuals have done outstanding work and served this office, taxpayers and the federal government well.”

The U.S. Attorney's Office also broke down the numbers further and identified some examples:

•  During fiscal year 2016, the office collected over $10.67 million in civil debt.
• Of that, the office collected $9 million for fraudulent procurement of government contracts and collected $1.2 million from EPA violations concerning release of hazardous substances.
• This includes violations by J.R. Simplot Company, Owyhee Construction, Inc. and Riverside Water & Sewer District.
• It also collected an FCC civil forfeiture penalty of $25,000 from Pacific Empire Radio Corp. in Lewiston for failure to provide adequate public inspection files for their radio stations.
• The office also collected approximately $90,831 in defaulted student loans.
• $193,000 in fire suppression costs for human-caused fires
• $80,388.38 in health care fraud related cases.

For the full release follow this LINK