MADISON, SWITZERLAND. –Acting U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea today announced that the Western District of Wisconsin collected $ 6,273,129.96 in criminal and civil actions in fiscal 2021. Of that amount, 1,284 $ 157.17 was collected in criminal actions and $ 4,988,972.79 in civil actions. The 2021 fiscal year corresponds to the 12 months from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021.

In addition, the Western District of Wisconsin has worked with other offices of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and elements of the Department of Justice to raise an additional $ 483,860.23 in cases jointly pursued by those offices.

“Our office has made collecting money owed to victims of crime and the United States in criminal and civil matters a priority,” Acting United States Attorney O’Shea said. “We will work to hold felony defendants accountable for their crimes and ensure that individuals and businesses who violate federal laws or owe the government money are financially responsible for their actions.”

In a major civil case in 2021, AutoGenomics, Inc. agreed to pay the United States $ 2.538 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute by engaging in a ploy to bill Medicare for molecular genetic tests performed for nursing care. home patients who have been induced by a referral kickback. In a criminal case, the office raised more than $ 1 million from six defendants who were charged and convicted under a federal tax scheme in which vendors and bar owners skimmed cash receipts video game machines. The defendants defrauded the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue by failing to pay federal and state income taxes, as well as state sales taxes, on gambling income.

The offices of the United States attorneys, along with the litigation divisions of the Department of Justice, are responsible for the execution and collection of civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to victims of federal crimes. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered physical harm or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Federal Fund for Victims of Crime, which distributes the funds raised to federal and state victim compensation and assistance programs. to the victims. In fiscal 2021, Wisconsin received more than $ 18.25 million in victim assistance funds and more than $ 2.48 million in victim compensation funds.