EAGLE PASS, Texas - As part of a federal asset sharing program, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) distributed $188,738.70 in funds forfeited from bulk cash seized to Maverick County and Dimmit County Sheriff’s Department July 21.
Each of the offices will receive more than $94,000 that will help them continue to do work in local communities.
Alejandro Amaro, HSI acting special agent in charge, presented the poster-sized checks to Maverick and Dimmit County Sheriffs’ Departments.
“HSI is proud to recognize the key role that our local law enforcement partners play in bringing to justice transnational criminals and their networks,” said Amaro. “With asset-sharing like this, we are able to utilize the illegal profits from the criminal networks to help recuperate expenses for local law enforcement and to ease the burden on our communities."
The forfeitures are the result of two separate seizures that occurred Feb. 13, 2021, and March 10, 2021, during outbound inspections conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. HSI arrested an individual in each case, and each was charged with illegal export contrary to law. Both defendants were prosecuted and convicted. Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced before the end of the year.
The funds are divided among participating agencies as part of ICE’s asset-sharing agreement. The forfeited funds are distributed to local law enforcement agencies to financially support the expensive work of fighting crime and keeping the streets of South Texas safe.
Asset Sharing Program
Individuals and organizations involved in the myriad of criminal conduct, for which ICE has been charged with combating, are oftentimes involved for one reason only – commercial advantage and/or financial gain – in other words, to make money. Whether utilized in the fight against human smuggling, narcotics, weapons, or contraband smuggling, financial crime, commercial fraud and intellectual property rights violations, asset forfeiture has proven to be a powerful tool in combating criminal activity and other violations that threaten national security.
The ICE Asset Forfeiture Program exemplifies ICE’s efforts in identification, seizure and forfeiture of assets that represent the proceeds of, and/or were used to facilitate federal violations under the investigative jurisdiction of ICE. The program adheres to the core belief that the consistent, and strategic, application of asset forfeiture laws is used to disrupt and dismantle the financial infrastructure of criminal enterprises and other national security threats. Asset Forfeiture is an essential element of comprehensive and effective law enforcement. Accordingly, ICE brings to bear considerable authority, expertise, and resources in asset forfeiture. The forfeiture of assets can be and is utilized as a sanction in criminal, civil and administrative investigative activities.
To report suspicious activity, call ICE's 24-hour toll-free hotline at: 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or visit https://www.ice.gov.
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