The Justice Asset Forfeiture Program includes activity by DOJ components and several components outside the Department. Each component plays an important role in the Program.
Department of Justice Components
Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering
Section of the Criminal Division holds the responsibility
of coordination, direction, and general oversight of the Program.
AFMLS handles civil and criminal litigation, provides legal support
to the U.S. Attorneys' Offices, establishes policy and procedure,
coordinates multi-district asset seizures, administers equitable
sharing of assets, acts on petitions for remission, coordinates
international forfeiture and sharing and develops training seminars
for all levels of government.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives (ATF) enforces the federal laws and regulations
relating to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives and arson by
working directly and in cooperation with other federal, state
and local law enforcement agencies. ATF has the authority to seize
and forfeit firearms, ammunition, explosives, alcohol, tobacco,
currency, conveyances and certain real property involved in violation
of law.
Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) implements major investigative strategies against drug networks
and cartels. Enforcement operations have resulted in significant
seizure and forfeiture activity. A significant portion of DEA
cases are adopted from state and local law enforcement agencies.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The FBI investigates a broad range of criminal violations, integrating
the use of asset forfeiture into its overall strategy to eliminate
targeted criminal enterprises. The FBI has successfully used asset
forfeiture in White Collar Crime, Organized Crime, Drug, Violent
Crime and Terrorism investigations. See the FBI Investigative Programs Asset Forfeiture Home Page for more information.
United States Marshals Service
as the primary custodian of seized property for the Program. USMS
manages and disposes of the majority of the property seized for
forfeiture. See their Seized
Asset Information page and their National
Sellers List for more information.
United States Attorneys' Offices
(USAOs) are responsible for the prosecution of both criminal and
civil actions against property used or acquired during illegal
activity.
Asset Forfeiture Management Staff
(AFMS): Has responsibility for management of the Assets Forfeiture
Fund, the Consolidated Asset Tracking
System (CATS), program-wide contracts, oversight of program
internal controls and property management, interpretation of the
Assets Forfeiture Fund statute, approval of unusual Fund uses,
and legislative liaison on matters affecting the financial integrity
of the Program.
Components Outside the Department of Justice
There are several organizations outside the Department of Justice
who participate in the DOJ Asset Forfeiture Program. This list
may change as additional agencies and offices become part of the
DOJ program. These agencies participate in Judicial forfeitures
only.
United
States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) makes seizures under
their authority to discourage profit-motivated crimes such as
mail fraud, money laundering and drug trafficking using the mail.
Food and Drug
Administration FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations has
made seizures involving health care fraud schemes, counterfeit
pharmaceuticals, illegal distribution of adulterated foods, and
product tampering.
United
States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General USDA's Office of Inspector General's (OIG)
mission is to promote effectiveness and integrity in the delivery of USDA agricultural programs. Forfeiture is
integrated as an important law enforcement tool in combating criminal activity affecting USDA programs.
Department
of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security The Bureau of Diplomatic
Security investigates passport and visa fraud and integrates asset
forfeiture into our strategy to target the profits made by vendors
who provide fraudulent documentation or others who utilize fraudulent
visas and/or passports to further their criminal enterprises.
Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is the criminal investigative arm of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense. The mission of DCIS is to protect America’s War fighters by conducting investigations and forfeitures in support of crucial National Defense priorities that include homeland security/terrorism, product substitution, contract fraud, public corruption, computer crimes, and illegal technology transfers. "
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