FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CRM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1994 (202) 616-2777 TDD (202) 514-1888 VETERAN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SECTION CHIEF GERALD MCDOWELL TO HEAD ASSET FORFEITURE OFFICE WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Assistant Attorney General Jo Ann Harris announced today that Gerald E. McDowell, formerly Chief of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section, has been named to be the new head of the Asset Forfeiture Office in the Criminal Division. McDowell is one of the Justice Department's most senior managers. He has been with the Criminal Division for more than 25 years. He served as head of the Organized Crime Strike Forces in St. Louis and Boston, as Chief of the Public Integrity Section, and, since 1992, head of the Fraud Section. "The selection of Mr. McDowell represents the Justice Department's strong commitment to ensuring that criminals do not profit from their crimes," said Harris, who heads the Department's Criminal Division. The Asset Forfeiture Office is responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing nationwide policies regarding the seizure and forfeiture of assets from criminals. Harris noted that "the power to seize and forfeit criminally derived property is one of law enforcement's most effective tools." In the current fiscal year, almost $500 million in civil and criminal forfeitures has been collected. "These forfeitures," according to Harris, "strike criminals where it counts, depriving them of their ill-gotten assets and making it less likely that the criminal organization or scheme will continue." At the same time, the proceeds of forfeitures are shared with state and local authorities to benefit law enforcement nationwide. The Asset Forfeiture Office, Ms. Harris said, "does a superb job of working with the United States Attorneys' Offices to develop our ability to make effective use of this invaluable tool." To head this important office, Ms. Harris said, she turned to "a person with a great depth of experience within the Department and a reputation for exercising sound judgment and working well with other law enforcement personnel." Harris said that she will name a new Chief of the Fraud Section shortly. In the interim, G. Allen Carver, Principal Deputy Chief of the Section, will serve as Acting Chief. ##### 94-584