U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia Bobby Mathieson, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force Ray Colgan, Congressman Frank Wolf, Falls Church City Police Chief Harry Reitze, Leesburg Police Chief Joseph Price, FBI Special Agent in Charge Ronald Hosko, and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Neil MacBride attended the ceremony June 22, in which a check for $850,000 was presented to the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund. Photo Contributed
The fight against gang activity in Northern Virginia received a financial boost last week in the form of an $850,000 check from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund. U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia Bobby Mathieson presented the check to Ray Colgan, executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force. The raid of an illegal gambling operation in Falls Church in August 2011 led to criminal asset forfeiture of more than $1 million.
The Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional partnership of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies that address gang activity in Northern Virginia through dedicated officers and resources, thereby making the region inhospitable to gang activity.
The funds received last week will be used for expenses such as a tattoo removal program, car leases, police overtime, equipment and training.
U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) attended the presentation and spoke about his appreciation for the hard work of law enforcement officers on the task force and how their efforts have made the community a much safer place.
The Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program encompasses the seizure and forfeiture of assets that represent the proceeds of, or were used to facilitate, federal crimes. The primary mission of the program is to employ asset forfeiture powers in a manner that enhances public safety and security. This is accomplished by removing the proceeds of crime and other assets relied upon by criminals and their associates to perpetuate their criminal activity against society. Asset forfeiture has the power to disrupt or dismantle criminal organizations that would continue to function if we only convicted and incarcerated specific individuals.
Law enforcement equitable sharing payments, such as the one made to the task force last week, are paid to state and local law enforcement agencies for assistance in forfeiture cases. Equitable sharing payments are calculated using the degree of direct participation in law enforcement efforts resulting in forfeiture.