Why are convicted defendants allowed to keep personal or financial assets that could be used to repay victims?
When a person is arrested for a fraud crime, the government makes exhaustive attempts to locate and, when allowed by law, seize the offender’s assets. However, some fraud criminals place their money or other assets in offshore accounts, making it hard for the government to get them. Sometimes, fraud criminals hide accounts in other names or give the money to persons who can access the funds without detection. If, during or after conviction, you learn of any changes in the defendant’s financial status, report that information to the federal prosecutor who handled the case or to the Financial Litigation Unit housed in the federal prosecutor’s office.
