PROVIDENCE, RI – Zachary A. Cunha, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, announced the collection of $6,952,328.06 in criminal and civil actions during Fiscal Year 2023. The total includes $3,275,794.48 from criminal actions and $3,676,533.58 from civil actions.
The office also collaborated with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and Department of Justice components, collecting an additional $652,429. This amount comprises $2,429.19 in criminal actions and $650,000 in civil actions.
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice’s litigating divisions are tasked with enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts to victims of federal crimes. Defendants are legally required to pay restitution to victims who have suffered physical injury or financial loss. Restitution payments are made directly to the victims, while criminal fines and felony assessments contribute to the department’s Crime Victims Fund. This fund distributes the collected funds to federal and state victim compensation and assistance programs.
Moreover, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island, in partnership with other agencies and divisions, collected $1,572,686 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2023. The forfeited assets are deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund. These funds are utilized to compensate crime victims and support various law enforcement initiatives.