Asset Forfeiture

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) manages a wide array of assets including real estate, commercial businesses, cash, financial instruments, vehicles, jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, vessels and aircraft. Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to operate the program, compensate victims and support various law enforcement efforts.

The Marshals manage the distribution of proceeds and payments to victims of crime and other innocent third parties, all of which helps to mitigate the financial damage inflicted by criminal activity. The agency employs best practices from private industry to ensure that assets are managed and sold in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

We support communities by transferring certain types of forfeited assets to state, local and nonprofit organizations. Through the Operation Goodwill program, forfeited real or personal property of marginal value can be transferred to state or local governments in support of drug abuse treatment, drug crime prevention and education, housing, job skills and other community-based public health and safety programs.

Department of Justice (DoJ) Asset Forfeiture Program participants include the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Department of Justice Criminal Division; U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and U.S. Attorneys' Offices. Other participants include the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General; Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security; and Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is the primary disbursing agency for the Department of Justice (DOJ) Asset Forfeiture Program. Annually, the U.S. Marshals Service processes more than 30,000 payments, typically exceeding $500 million to asset forfeiture payees. The U.S. Marshals Service processes Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program payments for various reasons, including but not limited to the payment of forfeited funds to victims of crime, State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies participating in the Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program, and contract vendors that provide property management and disposition services.

Asset forfeiture payees are required to complete a valid Unified Financial Management System (UFMS) Vendor Request Form to receive payment. Generally, valid submissions must be completed electronically, must contain a valid Consolidated Asset Tracking System (CATS) Party Identification Number or, in the case of Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program payees, National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Code, and valid nine-digit American Bankers Association (ABA) Routing Number.

Submission of a valid Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form does not guarantee payment or payment within a specific timeframe. Payments to asset forfeiture payees could be delayed for several reasons. All payments, with very limited exceptions, are subject to the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA) which requires the Department of the Treasury and other disbursing officials to offset federal payments to collect delinquent non-tax debts owed to the United States and to collect delinquent debts owed to states.

Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form

Asset forfeiture payees must submit a valid Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form.

All submissions are reviewed by the U.S. Marshals Service Asset Forfeiture Division (AFD) for accuracy within five (5) business days. The submitter of the form, and if different, the e-mail address provided on the payee's form will receive an automated e-mail from Asset Forfeiture Division Forms (indicating the status of their submission.

If you need assistance completing the Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form, please call and leave a voicemail at (703) 740-9326 or send an e-mail to AFD.ACHForms@usdoj.gov. Please be sure to reference your CATS Party ID Number or, in the case of DOJ Equitable Sharing Program payees, NCIC Code in your correspondence so that we can assist you faster.

Form Types

Below is a list of Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form purpose options. Please review the list and descriptions to determine which purpose is applicable.

Adoption Decline/Return to State and Local

This purpose is meant for State and local Law Enforcement Agencies looking to (re)obtain seized cash after the federal government has declined forfeiture or adoption. Typically, the State and local Law Enforcement Agency is pursuing forfeiture at the State level.

Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Payment

This purpose is meant for State and local Law Enforcement Agencies attempting to enroll or update banking information for Department of Justice Equitable Sharing payments.

Please see updated instructions to receive Department of Justice (DOJ) Equitable Sharing Payments.

Granted Petition Payment

This purpose is meant for granted petition for remission/mitigation letters from the Criminal Division; otherwise known as the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), or Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Return of Funds/Settlement Payment

This purpose is meant for the return of seized cash, court ordered third party payments, and settlement payments as directed by the Seizing Agency (examples, FBI, DEA, ATF) or United States Attorney's Office (USAO) as appropriate.

Non-Citizen (Domestic) Payment

This purpose is meant for any domestic (United States) based payment to a non-citizen (alien) resident who does not have a Tax ID Number.

Tort Claim Payment

This purpose is meant for granted tort claim letters from the United States Marshals Service, Office of General Counsel.

Important Reminders

• Handwritten submissions: Form must be electronically filled out and submitted. Handwritten submissions, including pen-and-ink- changes, will be rejected.
• EIN/SSN/TIN: The Tax Identification Number (TIN) entered on the Form should be that of the person or entity who is legally entitled to the funds. Under no circumstances, should be presentative (attorney, next of kin, etc.) of the defendant, claimant, or petitioner enter their personal or business Tax Identification Number on the Form. You may be asked to provide supporting documents to validate the Tax Identification Number. Individuals without a Tax Identification Number should use the Asset Forfeiture - Non-Citizen (Domestic) Payment Form.
• NCIC/TPID Code: For Department of Justice Equitable Sharing purposes, this number is your Agency's NCIC/ORI code (e.g., MD1234567). For all purposes, the TPID code is your 6-10 digits CATS Party ID Number (e.g., 1788649). This number is typically conveyed in the subject of correspondence instructing you to complete the UFMS Vendor Request Form. Please contact the Agency who sent you the correspondence should you have any questions regarding about the CATS Party ID Number. Please note, a CATS Asset ID Number (e.g., 19-DEA-123456) is not a valid entry.
• Financial Institution Information: Ensure the Payment Type is completed before attempting to complete Financial Institution Information. The ABA Number and Account Number must be able to accept Automated Clearing House (ACH) network payments. ABA Numbers and Account Numbers designated solely for Wires or Fedwire network payments result in a payment cancellation.
• Submission Timeframes: Generally, Forms are reviewed and processed within five (5) business days of submission date. Forms submitted between September 25th and October 10th may take additional time due to annual system maintenance. The submitter and, if different, vendor contact indicated in Form will receive notice via e-mail from ACH Forms indicating the status of the Form. The e-mail notice for successful Form will provide additional details about the forthcoming payment including points of contact.
• Payment Cancellation/Rejection Notices: If you have received an e-mail from ACH Forms indicating that your payment was either cancelled or rejected then there was a problem with your original Form submission. The reason for the cancellation/rejection and a brief description will be listed in the e-mail. Regardless of the reason, an updated Vendor Request Form must be submitted to process your payment. Generally, the account number previously provided is either inaccurate or no longer valid in our system due to inactivity.