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News
Release [print-friendly version] Over $18 Million In Forfeited Drug Proceeds Distributed
To Federal, FEB 15 -- (NEW YORK, NY) John P. Gilbride, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in New York, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Roslynn R. Mauskopf and US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Michael J. Garcia announced that $18,552,723.74 in forfeited drug funds were distributed to a total of 61 state and local law enforcement agencies and departments during the 2006 fiscal year. The distributed monies come from assets that were derived from, or were used to facilitate, drug trafficking activities. “It pleases me to take away the one thing drug traffickers cherish most – their money,” stated SAC Gilbride. “The seizure and redistribution of $18 million of drug proceeds is a slap in the face for drug dealers, we take away their money and give it back to law enforcement agencies in order to fund more investigations targeting drug dealers just like them.” SAC Gilbride added, “The DEA’s success in seizing drug proceeds is due to the diligent work of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners.” "Drug dealers should be on notice that crime does not pay," said U.S. Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf. "We will continue to use one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal to strip drug dealers of the money they crave and use it right back at them by funding new enforcement initiatives." Michael J. Garcia, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said, "The Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program demonstrates what can be accomplished through cooperation and coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. My Office is proud to have played a part in having drug dealers' profits go toward further investigations and prosecutions." Forfeited funds are transferred to local, state and federal law enforcement through the Department of Justice’s “Equitable Sharing Program,” which is administered by the United States Marshals Service. Each agency that participates in the program is required to use the funds for law enforcement purposes. The Department of Justice asset forfeiture program has three primary goals: To punish and deter criminal activity by depriving criminals of property used or acquired through illegal activities, to enhance cooperation among federal, state and local law enforcement, and to produce revenues to enhance forfeitures and strengthen law enforcement. As an example of the cooperative work between Federal, State and Local counterparts, in March of 2006, the DEA, New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, and the Nassau County Police Department dismantled a major cocaine distribution network based in Long Island, New York. The investigation culminated with three arrests, the execution of 8 search warrants throughout Suffolk County that resulted in the seizure of 210 kilograms of cocaine, $5,000,000.00, and three semi-automatic assault rifles. This was a 3-month long investigation into a high level narcotics trafficking network. The DEA and the NYSP arrested Billy Green, Norman Goode and Daniel Green. Norman Goode was employed as a Corrections Officer with the Suffolk County Sheriffs Department and Daniel Green was employed as a school teacher in the North Babylon School District who coached the girls High School Varsity Basketball Team. The Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program is designed to enhance cooperation among federal, state and local law enforcement through the sharing of proceeds resulting from federal forfeiture. State and local law enforcement agencies receive equitable sharing revenues by participating with federal law enforcement in joint investigations that lead to the forfeiture of property. The amount that is shared with state and local law enforcement is usually based on each agency’s level of participation in the case. Many of the state and local law enforcement agencies received funds based on their participation on DEA Task Forces. The attached document details how the $18,552,723.74 in forfeited drug proceeds were distributed.
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