It’s been a tough year for criminals in Lexington County and the state.

US Attorney Peter McCoy, Jr. reports his office has collected over $56 million in criminal, civil and asset forfeiture actions this year.

Of this, $49,000,580.36 was collected in civil actions and $4,839,347.03 was collected in criminal actions.

Working with partner agencies and divisions, the office collected $2,544,402 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2020. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

“I am extremely proud of the hard work of the consummate professionals in our office,” he said.

“We have been able to collect over $56 million this year – money that allows us to protect South Carolinians, seek justice for victims of crime, and seek harsh punishment for criminals.”

The US Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims.

The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

As a whole, the Justice Department collected more than $15.9 billion in civil and criminal actions in FY 2020.