An Overview of the DOJ AFP

The Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program (DOJ AFP) encompasses activity by both DOJ organizations and several components outside the department, each playing an important role in the program.

Money Laundering Section (AFMLS) and Asset Forfeiture Management Staff (AFMS)

AFMLS and AFMS are DOJ offices responsible for coordinating policy and management of the Assets Forfeiture Fund and Consolidated Asset Tracking System (CATS). They primarily work behind the scenes of the DOJ AFP.

DOJ Investigative Agencies, U.S.Government IA Components, and the U.S.Courts

A number of organizations and agencies work together complete the work of forfeiture while adhering to the policies and procedures set in place and managed by the AFMLS and AFMS. These groups include Investigative Agencies (IAs), U.S. Federal Courts, and the USMS.

IAs are federal law enforcement agencies who conduct investigations and bring information to the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO). They are also responsible for seizing assets in coordination with the USMS. There are eight main IAs in DOJ AFP, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The U.S. Federal Court System component of the AFP handles the prosecution and judgment of civil and criminal asset forfeiture cases.

US Marshals Service (USMS)

The USMS is involved throughout the forfeiture process, from pre-seizure to asset disposition. USMS employees and contractors are at the hub of the communication between the many organizations involved in the business of asset forfeiture.

Why the USMS?

Since the creation of the AFP in 1984, the US Marshals Service (USMS) has acted as the primary custodian of seized property for the program, managing and disposing of the majority of forfeited property. The USMS was selected in part for their experience with the execution of court orders and national infrastructure, and they remain a key caretaker of the program’s mission and policies.

The Marshals manage the distribution of proceeds and payments to victims of crime and other innocent third parties, helping to mitigate the financial damage inflicted by criminal activity. The agency employs best practices from private industry to ensure assets are managed and sold in an efficient and cost-effective manner.