Debt Collections in U.S. Attorney's Office Up 118%

Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced an increase in both civil and criminal federal collections for Fiscal Year 2005. “The United States Attorney’s Office protects the interests of the citizens of the United States by collecting money owed to the United States and the victims of crime,” U.S. Attorney Sperling reported.

“Civil and criminal debt collections of over $2.1 million were reported for Fiscal Year 2005,” U.S. Attorney Sperling noted. “This is an increase of 118% over Fiscal Year 2004 on collections of student loans, civil and criminal fines, restitution and deficiency judgments.”

“The Financial Litigation Unit in this district is efficiently paying its way,” U.S. Attorney Sperling said. “The actual cost of collections for Fiscal Year 2005 was less than 5% of the amount collected. This is even lower than the national rate of 5.97%.”

“Civil debt is often the product of defaulted student loans, Veterans Administration loans, Department of Agriculture loans, overpayments, forfeitures, criminal fines, and financial penalties,” U.S. Attorney Sperling informed. “Collection of these kinds of debt helps guarantee the availability of funds for future lending programs.”

Criminal fines and special assessments are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund. These monies are distributed proportionately to all fifty states to assist innocent persons who have been the victims of crime. Restitution ordered in a criminal matter is collected and paid to the victim.

The United States Attorney, in addition to federal criminal prosecution in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, represents all Federal governmental agencies including, but not limited to U. S. Department of Education, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Internal Revenue Service, Environmental Protection Agency, U. S. Small Business Administration, and the Department of Veteran Affairs.

“This office also defends United States agencies and employees who are sued,” U.S. Sperling stated. “We also defend federal health care providers against claims of negligence.”

“Civil Chief Susan Brandon and her crew are to be highly commended,” remarked U.S. Attorney Sperling. “Their work to protect and preserve the U.S. Treasury and defend the USA is an efficient, constructive and continuous success.”