Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

Paralegal Spends Her Days Tracking Down Millions

By ParalegalGateway.com

More than $20 million has been given back to its rightful owners this year, thanks to the hard work of Karen Musloski.

Ms. Musloski is a supervisory paralegal in the U.S. attorney?s office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which is based in Scranton. And she, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Thiel, spends most of her time making sure people pay what they owe, whether satisfying a defaulted loan or forfeiting assets earned through illegal activities.

The vast majority collected this year ? about $19.3 million ? comes from the civil collection program, including mortgage foreclosures, loan defaults and fraudulent health care claims, according to Martin C. Carlson, acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The other $1.5 million collected this year comes from criminal cases, when judges hand down fines and order the defendant to pay restitution and court costs. Many defendants also agree to forfeit cash and personal property seized during investigations.

Many times, defendants are ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars.

For example, Dickson City businessman Thomas Winnicki will have to pay more than $1 million in back taxes after pleading guilty to tax evasion in April.

And Dr. Robert A. Bittenbender, found guilty of conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion after a jury trial in June, will have to pay back more than $311,000 to Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Although that kind of money is unheard of for most people, ?One way or another, we?ll collect it,? Ms. Musloski said.

After someone is sentenced, a payment plan is set up under which a certain amount must be paid each month toward the total owed. If the defendant doesn?t do so, he can be taken to court.

Beyond that, Ms. Musloski said a person?s wages can be garnisheed and liens can be filed on the person?s home and other belongings. There?s also a program in which any money owed to the defendant by the government can be collected to pay that debt, Ms. Musloski said.

All the money collected goes back to the victims, whether it?s the IRS or an individual.

Making sure the money is collected is a way of making the U.S. attorney?s office pay for itself, Mr. Carlson said in a press release.

?For every dollar it costs the government to operate the Unites States attorney?s office, this office has returned $5 to the United States,? he said. (Source)

Full post as published by ParalegalGateway Blawg on January 03, 2008 (boomark / email).