News Release

HAMMOND — U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson announced today, Jan. 24, the Northern District of Indiana collected $5,214,677.59 in criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2023. Of this amount, $2,898,640.06 was collected in criminal actions and $2,316,037.53 was collected in civil actions.

Additionally, Northern District of Indiana worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $43,741,638.66 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. As part of this figure, the Northern District of Indiana recovered $31,251,810.00 from its’ settlement with BP Products North America Inc.

“When most people think about the work of a United States Attorney’s office, they mainly think about the number of criminals prosecuted and the sentences imposed. While prosecuting criminal conduct is important, that action alone does not completely advance public safety,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office promotes public safety by vigorously collecting monetary awards imposed by U.S. federal District Courts in civil and criminal judgments to compensate persons injured by criminals and civil violators. I am so very proud of my Office’s continued collection efforts.”

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.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Northern District of Indiana working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $2,171,602.00 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2023. 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.