U.S. Attorney Presents Equitable Sharing Funds to Law Enforcement Partners

On November 18, 2014, U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Michelle S. Klimt, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Marshal William Berger announced the distribution of more than $400,000 in criminally forfeited funds to seven law enforcement agencies for their participation in the federal prosecution of Dennis Devlin. Pursuant to the Department of Justice's Equitable Sharing Program, the funds were distributed to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, the South Daytona Beach Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Financial Services, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety Department.

In July 2011, Dennis Brian Devlin was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a minor. On more than one occasion, Devlin persuaded a 13-year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct at the Desert Inn, in Daytona Beach, where he lived. As part of Devlin's sentence, the Court ordered him to forfeit his interest in the Desert Inn, because he had used the hotel to facilitate the crimes. After several months of litigation, Deslin Hotels, Inc. conceded to the forfeiture of $1,552,588.62, which represents Devlin's interest in the proceeds obtained from the sale of the property. The forfeited funds were obtained from the sale.

U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III (podium) addresses the media during the equitable sharing ceremony

Desert Inn Hotel