FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois collected more than $8.1 million in civil and criminal actions during fiscal year 2025, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced.
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The office collected $3,937,603 in criminal actions and $4,188,354.34 in civil actions, totaling $8,125,957.90. In addition, the Southern District collaborated with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and Department of Justice components to secure $367,003.26 in jointly pursued cases, with $267,714.26 from criminal actions and $87,289 from civil actions.
“Collecting restitution and other debts is a vital component of the Department of Justice’s mission,” Weinhoeft said. “Thanks to efforts by Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the Financial Litigation Unit and the asset recovery team in southern Illinois, we have prioritized collections on debts owed to crime victims and the U.S.”
The largest civil settlement finalized by the Southern District of Illinois in fiscal year 2025 involved a $3.5 million recovery from Denali Group, Inc., an Alaska-based transportation company, to resolve allegations of False Claims Act violations.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the department’s litigating divisions are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the federal government and restitution owed to victims of federal crimes. Federal law mandates restitution payments to victims who have suffered physical injury or financial loss, while criminal fines and felony assessments are paid into the Department of Justice Crime Victims Fund. This fund supports federal and state victim compensation and assistance programs.
Furthermore, the Southern District, in partnership with other agencies and divisions, collected $520,888 in asset forfeiture actions during the fiscal year. Assets forfeited to the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and support various law enforcement activities.
