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DOJ Begins $40 Million Distribution from Western Union Remission Fund to 25,000 Victims
The United States Department of Justice has announced that the Western Union Remission Fund has started distributing approximately US$40 million to about 25,000 victims of a fraud scheme. These victims will receive full compensation for their losses. This distribution marks the beginning of the second phase of the fund's distributions, with more distributions expected in the future. The Western Union Remission was opened in March 2022 to allow victims who hadn't filed petitions in the first phase to apply for remission. The Department of Justice continues to accept petitions for remission from victims of the scheme. The Western Union fraud scheme involved various scams that targeted consumers, particularly seniors, and convinced them to send money through Western Union. Western Union entered into a deferred prosecution agreement in 2017 and agreed to forfeit funds to compensate victims.
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Originally published by www.nationnews.com (opens in new tab)
WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced that the Western Union Remission Fund began a distribution of about US$40 million in funds forfeited to the United States from the Western Union Company (Western Union) to about 25 000 victims located in the Caribbean, the United States and other places.
The DOJ said on Friday that these victims stand to recover the full amount of their losses.
It said this is the first distribution in the second phase of the Western Union Remission distributions.
The DOJ said the first phase of distributions paid more than US$365 million to over 148 000 victims, all of whom received full compensation for their losses.
The Justice Department anticipates authorising more distributions for victims in the coming months.
The second phase of the Western Union Remission was opened in March 2022 to provide victims who had not filed petitions in the first phase of distributions an opportunity to file for remission, the DOJ said.
It said it continues to accept petitions for remission from those victimised by the scheme.
“The latest distribution of the Western Union Remission Fund compensated thousands more victims harmed by predatory schemes,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Victim assistance is a primary goal of the Department’s Asset Forfeiture Programme, and this latest distribution is a testament to the impact asset forfeiture can have in compensating and making victims whole.”
US Attorney Gerard M. Karam for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said: “Today’s distribution of US$39.6 million to thousands of victims to compensate them for their losses demonstrates our commitment to hold all responsible parties accountable and to ensure justice for the victims who were financially harmed. We thank our law enforcement partners who continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the victims.”
“The US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is committed to protecting victims of fraud and will continue to investigate those perpetrating such schemes,” said Postal Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen of the USPIS Philadelphia Division. “This US$39 million disbursement to 25 000 victims brings the total disbursed to over $404 million to over 174 000 victims in the Western Union Remission process.
“We would like to thank our partners in this extraordinary effort especially the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section,” he added.
