United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas recovers millions for crime victims through aggressive debt collection and forfeiture

San Antonio, Texas – In observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman of the Western District of Texas announced a powerful milestone in the fight for justice and restitution. For fiscal year 2024, the district collected an impressive $31,891,176.54 in outstanding criminal debts through its Financial Litigation Unit (FLU), while also recovering $23,764,169 in assets through its Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU).

“Congress has mandated that the loss to crime victims be recognized through the enactment of various federal laws and has given the responsibility to U.S. Attorney’s Offices to aggressively enforce victim restitution orders. This office is determined to do just that, understanding that justice cannot be considered served until full restitution is made,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman. “Asset forfeiture plays a critical role in disrupting and dismantling illegal enterprises, depriving criminals of the proceeds of illegal activity, deterring crime, and restoring property to victims. Successful return of forfeited assets to victims through the remission and restoration processes is one of the primary goals of the Department’s Asset Forfeiture Program.”

Strong Enforcement Yields Major Results

The U.S. Attorney’s Office employed a variety of enforcement tools to recover losses for victims, including garnishments, liens, foreclosures, and writs of execution. The FLU alone collected over $3.3 million using the Treasury Offset Program, which intercepts federal payments like tax refunds to pay down debts.

Some of the most significant recoveries from FY2024 include:

• Janet Yamanaka Mello was ordered to pay $140 million for defrauding the government. Through aggressive forfeiture actions, the U.S. recovered over $18 million from bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, jewelry, and more.

• Marco Perez, who ran a Ponzi scheme affecting over 400 victims, was sentenced to 168 months in prison and $14.5 million in restitution. Authorities seized high-end vehicles, cash, and cryptocurrency totaling $1.1 million, which are being processed for victim restitution.

• Olivia Enriquez, convicted in 2008 for embezzling from her elderly employer, had long avoided payment. In 2024, the FLU foreclosed on her property and initiated garnishment of wages, successfully directing $78,000 to the victim.

• Bryan Lee Rankin, who led a Ponzi scheme with losses exceeding $11 million, was forced to pay restitution near the expiration of the debt through garnishment and property foreclosure, including $114,000 from mineral royalties.

• Victor Farias, convicted of defrauding retirees and law enforcement officers, had his home foreclosed in 2024, generating over $200,000 in recovered funds.

• The Flores family, who engaged in bribery and fraudulent military contracts, repaid the full $3.7 million owed at sentencing through property sales and bank seizures.

• Jack Kidd, who submitted false natural gas invoices to the government, repaid over $11 million before sentencing due to early enforcement actions.

Justice Beyond the Courtroom

“For many, it may feel like the end, but for my team of asset recovery attorneys and staff, the pursuit of justice in restoring victim losses is just the beginning,” said Leachman. “We are passionate and tireless when it comes to helping victims and will pursue every reasonable remedy to hold defendants accountable for repaying their losses.”

These high-profile recoveries represent only a portion of the broader efforts underway in the Western District of Texas to make victims whole again. Acting U.S. Attorney Leachman emphasized the department’s continued commitment to enforcing restitution orders and using every available tool to bring financial justice to those harmed by fraud and abuse.

The impressive outcomes achieved in FY2024 reaffirm the role of the U.S. Attorney’s Office not only as a force for criminal prosecution but also as a champion for victims. Through the coordinated work of the FLU and AFU, justice does not end with a conviction—it follows through to ensure accountability and compensation.