Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) announced significant achievements in asset forfeiture actions for Fiscal Year 2024, collecting over $400 million. This accomplishment places EDNY at the top among all 93 districts nationwide. The recoveries primarily stem from illegal activities including transnational crime, financial fraud, bribery, political corruption, and cybercrime.
U.S. Attorney John J. Durham emphasized the importance of asset forfeiture as a law enforcement tool: “The forfeiture of criminal assets is an important tool used by law enforcement to deter crime and punish wrongdoers by depriving them of their ill-gotten gains.” He added that the funds are often used to compensate victims of crime and credited his office's success to the dedication of its staff.
Forfeited assets can be deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund, which compensates crime victims and supports various law enforcement initiatives. Additionally, EDNY is responsible for enforcing civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S., ensuring restitution to victims who have suffered injury or loss due to federal crimes.
In FY 2024, aside from asset forfeitures, EDNY collected over $333 million in judgments and debts on behalf of victims and the government through criminal and civil actions. Of this total, approximately $303 million came from criminal cases while nearly $30 million was from civil cases.
Notable cases included Gunvor S.A., a major commodities trading firm that pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to bribing Ecuadorian officials for oil contracts. Gunvor was ordered to pay over $374 million in penalties and forfeit more than $287 million in illicit gains.
Another significant case involved Datisa S.A., linked to FIFA corruption investigations. Over $100 million was forfeited from Datisa’s Swiss bank account after it was proven that bribes were paid to secure media rights for a soccer tournament in the United States.
These efforts highlight EDNY's commitment to justice and accountability through substantial financial recoveries associated with high-profile cases.
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