Stephanie Brooker, Chief
The Asset Forfeiture Unit oversees all criminal and civil forfeiture matters for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Federal law gives us the authority to seize and forfeit the proceeds of virtually all serious federal offenses including terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime, child exploitation, alien smuggling, human trafficking, white collar crime, and money laundering.
The mission of the unit is to enforce compliance with the laws of the United States by using criminal and civil forfeiture, and money laundering charges, to disrupt and deter criminal activity, to dismantle criminal enterprises, and to deprive criminals and criminal organizations of illegal proceeds and instrumentalities of crime. We strive to recover property that may be used to compensate victims. Forfeited funds are used to provide full or partial restoration to victims of crimes, and as permitted by law, to support federal, state, and local law enforcement activities.
Prosecutors assigned to the Asset Forfeiture Unit assist all of the prosecutors in the Criminal Division with any forfeiture and money laundering issues in their cases. We assist with investigative strategy, review all indictments and plea agreements that include forfeiture and money laundering, and assist with forfeiture issues at trial and in sentencings. Our Unit also files civil forfeiture actions, where appropriate, and handles all civil forfeiture litigation.