Military families whose loved ones were injured or killed fighting ISIS in Syria are pressing the Justice Department to release nearly $777 million in forfeited funds from French cement giant Lafarge, which a French court convicted in April of paying millions in bribes to the terrorist group.
The money stems from a 2022 settlement in which Lafarge pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to charges of providing material support to ISIS. The company paid the sum into an asset forfeiture fund controlled by the DOJ, with the funds intended for victims of ISIS attacks, including American service members and their families.
Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy, an Explosives Ordnance Disposal specialist, was left a quadriplegic after being injured in November 2017 while clearing a booby-trapped hospital in Raqqa, Syria. His wife Lindsey Stacy described the family's ongoing struggles, saying, "It's very overwhelming, Kenton struggles mentally and physically with his own battles and the kids and I, we have our own struggles."
Stacy and nearly 1,000 other plaintiffs, most of them military families, are part of litigation in the Eastern District of New York seeking compensation from the Lafarge funds. Their attorney, Todd Toral of Jenner & Block, noted that the French court's ruling marked a significant accountability step. "I think the ruling by the court in France is significant generally, because it's the first time in many, many years that a corporation, and not just the corporation, but executives at a corporation have been held to account for their misconduct in aiding terrorism," Toral said.
According to court records and the Justice Department, Lafarge paid more than $6.5 million to ISIS between 2013 and 2014 through its Syrian subsidiary to keep a factory in Jalabiya operating. The cement produced there was reportedly used by the group for tunnels and bunkers. The company acknowledged the violations as a "legacy matter" in "flagrant violation of Lafarge’s Code of Conduct."
Hailey Dayton, whose father Chief Petty Officer Scott Dayton became the first American killed by ISIS in Syria on Thanksgiving Day 2016, recalled the moment notification arrived at their Florida home. "I was 15 when my dad was killed," she said. "I saw six guys in Navy white step out of the van. I got so excited because I thought my Dad came back to surprise us."
The Biden administration had declined to distribute the funds while the French case remained pending. In February 2025, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., questioned then-Attorney General Pam Bondi about the delay during a congressional hearing. Bondi responded that the department was "committed to doing everything we can to support the victims."
The DOJ, which still controls the funds, issued a statement saying it remains "committed to compensating all victims to the maximum extent permitted by law" and will "engage in the appropriate process to evaluate claims." Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche now oversees the matter.
Lindsey Stacy emphasized the prolonged wait, stating, "There's a lot of families out there that could benefit from these funds. I mean, it's been almost nine years. It would be nice to, you know, for justice to be served." Toral added that the families "deserve to be treated better by the United States of America."
The case represents the first time a company has faced U.S. charges for supporting a terrorist organization. Lafarge is appealing the French conviction, which also resulted in a six-year prison sentence for its former CEO and guilty findings for eight other former employees.
President Donald Trump had highlighted Stacy's service in his 2018 State of the Union address, praising Army Staff Sgt. Justin Peck for rescuing him. The families continue to seek closure and financial support for medical and caregiving needs amid the ongoing legal process.