The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada reported that over $37 million has been recovered through asset forfeiture and returned to victims of financial crimes. From October 2024 to July 2025, federal and local law enforcement worked together to return a total of $37,236,606.37 to individuals affected by criminal activity, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The Small Business Administration has recovered over $1.5 million in fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans through the asset forfeiture process. In a separate case, a victim of financial crime received a refund of $32,193,787.94 in July. "Our office remains committed to holding offenders financially accountable and to restoring victims," said U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah. FBI Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge Amir Ehsaei said the successful recoveries were made possible through joint efforts and encouraged the public to report fraud and scams, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Funds recovered through asset forfeiture are placed into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to help compensate victims and cover losses from criminal activity. The Paycheck Protection Program, created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been a target of fraud. Authorities have recovered millions in connection to these cases. Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of the IRS Criminal Investigation's Phoenix Field Office said, "Financial crime can be devastating to victims." The public is encouraged to report COVID-19 related fraud to the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or through the NCDF Web Complaint Form, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
