Justice Dept. Collects Barely 2¢ on the Dollar from Big-Time Convicted Swindlers

[The Straight Story]

Justice Dept. Collects Barely 2¢ on the Dollar from Big-Time Convicted Swindlers

At a time when the federal government could desperately use more revenues to balance the budget, the Department of Justice is doing a lousy job of collecting monies from convicted swindlers.

A review of Justice Department records by USA Today found the government has collected about 2 cents on the dollar—or $660 million out of $30 billion owed by nearly 260 criminals who were ordered to pay $25 million or more in fines and restitution.

Including smaller cases, in 2010 the Justice Department collected $2.84 billion—but that was out of $65 billion owed.

Five years ago, the Justice Department asked Congress to give it the power to freeze assets at the beginning of a case so that defendants could not hide the money they owed before it could be collected…but Congress did not take action.

http://www.allgov.com/Where_is_the_Money_Going/ViewNews/Justice_Dept_Collects_Barely_2_cents_on_the_Dollar_from_Big_Time_Convicted_Swindlers_110309

[Marblehead]

1. crime pays

[Scuba]

2. White collar crime pays. Smoke some dope, go to jail (free labor for the corps).

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. +1

[dotymed]

4. If you do it on a huge

public scale.

[fasttense]

3. But it's more than just not fair.

It allows these swindlers to continue to collect power through their stolen wealth. That's why our government is so corrupt and will continue to be corrupt until.......

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Funds recovered would go to the victims, not to the General Fund

Freezing assets before the conviction is almost akin to punishment before conviction. However, the courts can and do order transparency ahead of time today.

[RedCloud]

7. Just scam 'em 50 times. problem solved.

[Horse with no Name]

8. Yet...if you have a parking ticket, speeding ticket, hot check, etc

just TRY to pay less and see what happens.