Brooklyn, NY – Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn brought in $75.5 million from criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2011, up almost 47 percent from 2010, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced Monday.
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Nationwide, federal prosecutors collected $6.5 billion in restitution, criminal fines and felony assessments in 2011, more than three times the amount of money budgeted to the 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices this year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
That total is down slightly from $6.68 billion in 2010, but still an increase of more than 50 percent from the combined $8.5 billion in 2008 and 2009, according to the department.
“During this time of economic recovery, these collections are more important than ever,” U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta Lynch said in a statement.
Of the $75.5 million taken in Brooklyn, $49.4 million came from criminal cases and $26.1 million from civil actions.
Brooklyn federal prosecutors also collected $177.9 million in civil and criminal forfeitures in 2011, an increase of more than 93 percent from 2010.
More than $50 million of the forfeiture funds came from a November 2010 payment by fugitive and former tech executive Jacob “Kobi” Alexander, who was accused of running a massive stock-option backdating scheme.
The funds were distributed to Alexander’s alleged victim, Comverse Technology Inc, which used them to settle shareholder litigation and class-action lawsuits filed over related losses.
Alexander is currently in Namibia, where he is fighting extradition to the United States.
Let the criminals pay more thereby relieving the law abiding citizens.