Financial Litigation Unit, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Texas

The Financial Litigation Unit (FLU) with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas has taken strides to collaborate with its prosecutors, the District’s aggressive asset forfeiture unit, and the United States Probation Office to maximize restitution payments to victims of crime and fine collections on behalf of the Crime Victims Fund. 

The Eastern District of Texas FLU consists of paralegals Rosie Trimble, Kathy Nash, and Rebecca Smith, and Assistant United States Attorney Robert Austin Wells. FLU meets with prosecutors and participates in the debriefing of defendants to alert those defendants of their responsibilities to the victims in restitution cases. FLU also meets with investigating agents regarding the defendant’s assets at the earliest stages; this assists with prevention of fraudulent transfers by defendants attempting to avoid their obligations to the victims. 

FLU conducts joint trainings with the United States Probation Office’s Pre-Trial, Pre-Sentence, and Supervision divisions. Quarterly awards encourage prosecutors to go above and beyond for crime victims and help raise awareness of the objectives of the Crime Victims Fund. FLU was nominated by John M. Bales, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Texas.