Massachusetts Justice: $330 Million Recovered, Wildlife Parts Seized
The U.S. Attorney's Office reports major financial settlements and the seizure of endangered animal specimens, including an orangutan skull, during fiscal year 2026.
By Tomas Gonzalez ·
The Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office has concluded fiscal year 2026 with the recovery of over $330 million in funds and the seizure of more than 100 endangered wildlife specimens. The figures include settlements, civil and criminal collections, and asset forfeitures processed by the district.
The office stated that it entered into settlements exceeding $133 million and collected more than $164 million from active cases. Additionally, the district recovered approximately $35 million in assets. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said these figures "represent far more than numbers." She added that the results reflect the office's pursuit of individuals who exploit public programs and seek profit through fraud.
Beyond the local district, Foley noted that coordination with other U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Department of Justice led to the collection of an additional $162 million. The office attributed these gains to investigations into Paycheck Protection Program fraud, romance scams, and schemes targeting older adults.
Three major settlements define the fiscal year's financial results. The largest involved a $46 million agreement with pharmaceutical company Veloxis. That case resolved civil and criminal allegations that the firm provided kickbacks to healthcare providers while marketing the kidney transplant drug Envarsus.
The office also reached a $15 million settlement with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute regarding alleged false claims on National Institutes of Health grants. Separately, Laboratory Corporation of America settled for $14.5 million over allegations of medically unnecessary Medicare claims for urine testing.
The district's Asset Recovery team secured a forfeiture order for 100 wildlife specimens. The collection includes an orangutan skull, a tiger skull, and a jaguar skin. A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty to trafficking these items. He was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $75,000 fine.
Foley stated that the office will continue using all available tools to recover stolen funds and return money to victims. The announcement emphasized that the district intends to ensure wrongdoing carries meaningful consequences for those who abuse positions of trust.
