U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania issued the following announcement on Dec. 17.
U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady announced that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania collected a record $145M in civil and criminal actions in FY 2018.
Of the total amount collected, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with partner agencies, collected $10,604,018 in FY 2018 by forfeiting criminal assets, which was one of the largest amounts for similarly-sized U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country. This $10.6M went to victims of crime and to 29 state and local police departments throughout western Pennsylvania.
The forfeiture of criminal proceeds is a critical part of DOJ’s mission. In addition to restoring money to crime victims, forfeited assets help fund victims’ programs that provide critical services to victims. Forfeited criminal assets are also used to further the mission and effectiveness of our state and local law enforcement partners through police training and the purchase of new equipment including body cameras, canines and bulletproof vests.
"When criminals steal, defraud, and harm members of the community, we will prosecute them, forfeit the proceeds of their crimes, and return the money to the victims," said U.S. Attorney Brady. "By returning money to victims, and by helping our law enforcement partners purchase much needed equipment, we are enhancing our mission to keep the citizens of western Pennsylvania safe."
Original source can be found here.