Asset Forfeiture Program
- The Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program has become a
key part of the federal government’s efforts to combat major
criminal activity by stripping criminals of their ill-gotten gains.
- The U.S. Marshals Service plays a critical role by managing and
selling assets seized and forfeited by federal law enforcement
agencies nationwide.
- Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to compensate
victims, supplement funding for law enforcement initiatives and
support community programs.
- The Marshals Service manages various types of assets, including
real estate, vehicles, commercial businesses, cash, financial
instruments, jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, vessels and
aircraft.
- The Marshals manage the distribution of equitable sharing
proceeds to state and local law enforcement agencies that
participated in investigations leading to forfeiture as well as
payments to victims of crime and innocent third parties.
2012
Data |
Value of assets being managed by the U.S.
Marshals Service |
$4.4 billion |
Number of assets being managed by the U.S.
Marshals Service |
19,000 |
Amount shared with participating state and
local law enforcement agencies in fiscal 2011 |
$561 million |
Amount distributed to victims of crime and
claimants in fiscal 2011 |
$482 million |
Equitable sharing proceeds distributed
since fiscal 1985 |
$6.6 billion |
- The agency uses practices from private industry to ensure that
assets are managed and sold in an efficient and cost-effective
manner.
- The Marshals Service supports communities by transferring
certain types of forfeited assets to state, local and nonprofit
organizations. Through a program called Operation Goodwill,
forfeited real or personal property of marginal value can be
transferred to state or local governments in support of drug abuse
treatment, drug crime prevention and education, housing, job skills
and other community-based public health and safety programs.
- The agency also assists with pre-seizure planning and analysis,
seizure operations, execution of court orders, litigation support
and distribution of proceeds.
- The Asset Forfeiture Program was created in 1984 when Congress
passed the Comprehensive Crime Control Act, giving federal
prosecutors new forfeiture provisions to combat crime. This
legislation also created the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture
Fund.
- Asset Forfeiture Program participants include the U.S. Marshals
Service; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Executive Office for
United States Attorneys; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives; Food and Drug Administration; Department of Agriculture;
Bureau of Diplomatic Security; Defense Criminal Investigative
Service; and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
- Additional information can be found at
www.usmarshals.gov/assets,
including current asset sales (public auctions and property
listings) and the National Sellers List. News feed and email
notifications are available by subscription from the Web page.
NOTE: The U.S. Marshals Service's
National Sellers List
provides the same information contained in commercially-marketed publications. |
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