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Financial Litigation Program

The Financial Litigation Program (FLP) enforces collection of criminal and civil debts owed to the United States or to victims of federal crime.

Civil Collections

The FLP enforces collection of civil debts on behalf of federal agencies in litigation that most often involves federal loan programs, including student loans, farm loans, small business loans, residential and commercial mortgages, civil penalties assessed by federal agencies, and civil fraud actions prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO).

Criminal Collections

The FLP also enforces the collection of special assessments imposed upon each individual or corporate defendant at the time of sentencing, criminal fines, and restitution owed to victims.  

Restitution is distributed to victims identified through the prosecution of the case.

The following are examples of litigation initiated by the FLP:

  • Filing civil actions against those who have defaulted on federal loans;
  • Seizing debtor property such as homes, cars, boats, and other personal property; filing liens on debtor real estate; and commencing foreclosure proceedings;
  • Garnishing wages of a debtor; and
  • Commencing actions to void fraudulent conveyances, which are transactions in which the debtor tries to reduce the amount of money available to pay to the Government as a creditor.

Payment Instructions

Civil Payments

Civil payments must be made payable to “U.S. Department of Justice” and mailed to:

U.S. Department of Justice
Nationwide Central Intake Facility
P.O. Box 790363
St. Louis, MO 63179-0363

You must write your name and U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) number or CDCS number on your check or money order and include your statement coupon with your payment.

Alternatively, all civil monetary obligations to the United States may be paid via https://www.pay.gov.  Detailed instructions are included at the website.

Payments in the amount of $50,000 or more should be paid via electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the U.S. Treasury.  The FLP must be contacted at least three (3) business days prior to the funds transfer to ensure that the transfer is properly processed.  Please call 866‑897‑0464 to speak with a Paralegal Specialist in the FLP to make payment arrangements.

Criminal Payments 

All payments for special assessments, fines and restitution are received by the United States District Court Clerk’s Office.  The Clerk’s Office maintains the official collection record of the case and issues copies of receipts to the debtor and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  

Payments should be made payable to “Clerk, U.S. District Court” and mailed to:

United States District Court
100 S. Clinton St.
P.O. Box 7367
Syracuse, New York 13261-7367

Alternatively, the payment can be presented in person to the cashier at the District Court Clerk’s Office in either Albany, Binghamton, Syracuse or Utica, New York. 

Special assessments, fines and restitution are only payable by cashier’s check, certified bank check, money order, debit card, ACH, cash, and personal checks.  Funds must be paid in U.S. currency drawn on a U.S. bank.  Third party checks are not accepted.

Please note that the Court will not accept more than $500 in cash or personal checks.  Payments of more than $500 must be made by money order, certified bank check, ACH, or debit card.  

You may also make payments online by going to https://www.nynd.uscourts.gov and clicking on the link “Pay Your Criminal Debt Online.”

You must write your name and case number on your check or money order and include your statement coupon, if you have one, with your payment.

Electronic Funds Transfer Information

Contact us at 866‑897‑0464 to speak with a Paralegal Specialist in the FLP in order to verify that the debt meets the criteria for a Fedwire Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and to obtain the documentation required for such wire transfer. 

Environmental Protection Agency superfund payments of $10,000 or more and payments of $50,000 or more for all other agencies may be made by Fedwire EFT.

Please Note:

  1. The individual or company representative may present the Fedwire EFT form to any bank.
  2. The individual or company is responsible for any Fedwire EFT costs.
  3. The individual or company representative must notify the FLP of the amount of the money transfer three (3) business days prior to the wire transfer.  This step is required because the Department of Justice Debt Accounting Operations Group must have advance notice of all wire transfers.

Victims Who Are Owed Restitution

If you are the victim of a crime for which an order of restitution has been issued by the Court, and are looking for information about your restitution or need to update your contact information, please contact the Victim Witness Assistance Unit toll free at 888‑539‑4535.  You can find additional information about the Victim Witness Assistance Unit at:
     https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/victim-witness-assistance.

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Common Questions and Answers

Is interest accruing on my debt?

Yes.  All civil debts accrue interest, which is compounded annually.  The rate is based on the Treasury Bill rate on the day the civil judgment is entered by the court.

All criminal debts in the amount of $2,500 or more also accrue interest, beginning 15 days after the date of sentencing, unless waived by the court.  The rate of interest is determined by the Treasury Bill rate on the day of sentencing.

Interest accruing on criminal debts is not compounded; however, penalties of up to 25% of the debt may be added if the criminal debt is not paid within 90 days of its due date.

Can I pay my debt through installment payments?

The FLP may consider entering into an installment payment agreement depending upon your financial situation.  

A Financial Statement must be completed and signed by you, with supported documentation as required, for review and consideration.  

A completed Financial Statement can be mailed to the FLP at:

United States Attorney's Office
Attention: Financial Litigation Program
P.O. Box 7198
100 South Clinton Street
Syracuse, NY 13261-7198

Contact us at 866‑897‑0464 to speak with a Paralegal Specialist in the FLP if you wish to discuss this option.

Contacting the Financial Litigation Program

Due to the Privacy Act requirements, all responses to requests for personal financial or payment information will be in writing and mailed directly to debtors only.  If you are a debtor and wish to be provided with financial information concerning your case, interest or penalty calculation, or payment record, please include your current mailing address with your request.

If you are a debtor, but wish to request that your account information be provided to someone other than you, your request must be in writing, signed by you, and mailed to the FLP at:

United States Attorney's Office
Attention: Financial Litigation Program
P.O. Box 7198
100 South Clinton Street
Syracuse, NY 13261-7198

If you have any questions, call 866‑897‑0464 to speak with a Paralegal Specialist in the FLP.  You can also e-mail the FLP at USANYN.FLP@usdoj.gov.  Please do not send unencrypted forms to this address. Contact us for instructions to protect Privacy Protected Information.

Updated January 18, 2024