Seized By

[Trev Mailloux]

TheAsset Forfeiture Program was created in 1984 when Congress passed the Comprehensive Crime Control Act, which provided federal prosecutors and agents the legal and regulatory tools necessary to keep up with, and ahead of, those who commit crime for economic benefit. The U.S. Marshals Service plays a critical role in identifying and evaluating assets that represent the proceeds of crime as well as efficiently managing and selling assets seized and forfeited by Department of Justice.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) manages a wide array of assets including real estate, commercial businesses, cash, financial instruments, vehicles, jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, vessels and aircraft. Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to operate the program, compensate victims and support various law enforcement efforts.

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

We support communities by transferring certain types of forfeited assets to state, local and nonprofit organizations. Through the Operation Goodwill program, 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.

Department of Justice (DoJ) Asset Forfeiture Program participants include the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Department of Justice Criminal Division; U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and U.S. Attorneys' Offices. Other participants include the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General; Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security; and Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) is entrusted to assess, value, manage, and sell real property assets that are legally forfeited to the United States (U.S.) Government. In most cases, the properties sold by the U.S. Marshals Service are sold by utilizing traditional means of listing the properties with a licensed broker, pricing the properties at Fair Market Value, and advertising the properties on popular industry websites (Realtor.com, Zillow, Redfin, etc.), as well as RealLook.com which is the website run by the U.S. Marshals Service's Real Property National Contractor (RPNC).

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) manages and sells a wide array of assets including, but not limited to, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, fine jewelry, and art. In addition, U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for selling intangible assets such as virtual currency, domain names, and other various licenses. Every year, U.S. Marshals Service features hundreds of online and live auctions that are open to the public. These auctions frequently feature collectible vehicles, diamonds, certified Rolex watches, gold and silver, famous paintings, and much more.

Help a Rescue Dog - The United States Marshals Service (USMS) supports the removal of canines from illegal fighting situations nationwide as a part of its integral role in the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program.

The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is the primary disbursing agency for the Department of Justice (DOJ) Asset Forfeiture Program. Annually, the U.S. Marshals Service processes more than 30,000 payments, typically exceeding $500 million to asset forfeiture payees. The U.S. Marshals Service processes Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program payments for various reasons, including but not limited to the payment of forfeited funds to victims of crime, State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies participating in the Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program, and contract vendors that provide property management and disposition services.

Asset forfeiture payees are required to complete a valid Unified Financial Management System (UFMS) Vendor Request Form to receive payment. Generally, valid submissions must be completed electronically, must contain a valid Consolidated Asset Tracking System (CATS) Party Identification Number or, in the case of Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program payees, National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Code, and valid nine-digit American Bankers Association (ABA) Routing Number.

Submission of a valid Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form does not guarantee payment or payment within a specific timeframe. Payments to asset forfeiture payees could be delayed for several reasons. All payments, with very limited exceptions, are subject to the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA) which requires the Department of the Treasury and other disbursing officials to offset federal payments to collect delinquent non-tax debts owed to the United States and to collect delinquent debts owed to states.

All forms are reviewed by the U.S. Marshals Service Asset Forfeiture Division (AFD) for accuracy within five (5) business days. The submitter of the form, and if different, the e-mail address in box 20 of the payee's form will receive an automated e-mail from Asset Forfeiture Division Forms (itd.sha...@usdoj.gov) indicating the status of their submission.

If you need assistance completing the Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form, please call and leave a voicemail at (703) 740-9326 or send an e-mail to AFD.AC...@usdoj.gov. Please be sure to reference your CATS Party ID Number or, in the case of DOJ Equitable Sharing Program payees, NCIC Code in your correspondence so that we can assist you faster.

Below is a list of Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Forms which have been partially completed for your convenience. Please review the list and descriptions to determine which Form is applicable. Each Form has specific instructions located on the second page to further assist you.

If you are unable to open the Forms listed below then please use the Basic Sharing Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form. If requesting an international payment then please use the Asset Forfeiture - International Vendor Request Form. Please see at the bottom of this page for other important reminders.

This form is meant for the return of seized cash, court ordered third party payments, and settlement payments as directed by Seizing Agency (examples, FBI, DEA, ATF) or United States Attorney's Office (USAO) as appropriate.

This form is meant for granted petition for remission/mitigation letters from the Criminal Division; otherwise known as the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), or Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

This form is meant for State and local Law Enforcement Agencies looking to (re)obtain seized cash after the federal government has declined forfeiture or adoption. Typically, the State and local Law Enforcement Agency is pursuing forfeiture at the State level.

Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Forms must be electronically filled out before they are submitted to the Automated Clearing House Mailbox at AFD.AC...@usdoj.gov. Handwritten submissions, including pen-and-ink changes, will be rejected.

For Department of Justice, Equitable Sharing Program purposes, this number is your Agency's NCIC/ORI code (e.g., MD1234567). For all other purposes, the TPID code is your 6-10 digit CATS Party ID Number (e.g., 1788649). This number is typically conveyed in the subject of the correspondence instructing you to complete the Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form. Please contact the Agency who sent you the correspondence should you have any questions about the CATS Party ID Number. Please note, a CATS Asset ID Number (e.g., 19-DEA-123456) is not a valid entry for Box 24.

Generally, Forms are reviewed and processed within five (5) business days of the submission date. Forms submitted between September 25th and October 10th may take additional time due to annual system maintenance. The submitter and, if different, vendor contact indicated in Box 20 of the Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form will receive notice via e-mail from Asset Forfeiture Division Forms (itd.sha...@usdoj.gov) indicating the status of the Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form. Notification of successful Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Forms will include additional points of contact regarding your payment.

If you have received an e-mail from Asset Forfeiture Division Forms (itd.sha...@usdoj.gov) indicating that your payment was either cancelled or rejected then there was a problem with your original Form submission. The reason for the cancellation/rejection and a brief description will be listed in the e-mail. Regardless of the reason, an updated Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form must be submitted to reprocess your payment.

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Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), announced the seizure of approximately 1.4 million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products, including brands such as Elf Bar, which according to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, is the most commonly used brand among youth e-cigarette users. The estimated retail value of the seized products totals more than $18 million. The seizures were part of a three-day joint operation, which resulted in the seizure of 41 shipments containing illegal e-cigarettes.

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