Washington – The U.S. Marshals Service is conducting a live and Web simulcast auction to sell 255 lots of fine jewelry, watches and gold coins in San Antonio Saturday. The auction starts at 10 a.m. CDT at the Adrian Spears Judicial Training Center, and the Web simulcast is at www.txauction.com. A public preview is scheduled for Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A $1,000 refundable deposit must be made by 10 a.m. CDT Thursday in order to participate in the auction online. A catalog with the expected price range for each item is available on the website (www.txauction.com).

Estimated values for the items vary from below $100 to several hundred thousand dollars, so the auction offers an opportunity for everybody from the average consumer to collectors to resellers to wholesalers.

The items being sold were seized from federal court cases nationwide and are now forfeited to the government. The U.S. Marshals Service consolidates pieces from cases nationwide and holds a large auction several times a year. Proceeds generated from the auctions are used to compensate victims of crimes and supplement law enforcement programs.

From l to r: A platinum necklace, lot 165, valued up to $117,500; a ring with 92 round diamonds, lot 177, valued up to $117,500; and a platinum ring with a 15-carat fancy yellow diamond, lot 194, valued up to $180,000.

For more information on the auction, go to www.txauction.com.

The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for managing and selling seized and forfeited properties acquired by federal criminals through illegal activities. Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to compensate victims, supplement funding for law enforcement initiatives and support community programs. As part of the Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program, the Marshals currently manage more than 19,000 assets with a value of $4.4 billion.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

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America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency