Victims

Returning assets to victims of crime is a top priority of the Department's Asset Forfeiture Program. Since 2000, the victim compensation program has returned more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims, through the granting of petitions for remission, or by transferring forfeited funds to courts for payment of restitution through restoration. The victim compensation team is comprised of attorneys, accountants, auditors, and claims analysts in the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section. These professionals coordinate with the United States Attorneys' Offices, federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies, and the private bar to locate, recover, and return the proceeds of crime.

The Department of Justice and its remission administrators will never ask for payment to participate in or receive funds from the remission or restoration process.

If you are a victim, any communication will come directly from the remission administrator or from government representatives with whom you have already had contact. Please be cautious of any other individual or organization claiming to represent the federal government.

If you are asked to pay a fee from an unknown source it is a fraud.

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Forms

UFMS Vendor Request Form

Model Petition to the Attorney General for Remission or Mitigation of Criminal Forfeiture, or Civil Forfeiture Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(e)(6), by a Non-Owner Victim of the Underlying or Related Offense (pdf) | (online submission)

28 CFR 9: Regulations Governing the Remission or Mitigation of Civil and Criminal Forfeitures

Publications

Restoration Guidelines (Asset Forfeiture Policy Manual: Chapter 14)