County Collects $1.1 Million Via Asset Forfeiture in the Past Year

Fayette County collected over $1.1 million through asset forfeiture over the last year, according to a report filed with the Commissioners Court by County Attorney Peggy Supak.

State law allows law enforcement agencies to collect money and other assets from defendants facing criminal charges. In Fayette County, much of that money comes from defendants accused of trafficking drugs on Interstate 10. 

Supak submitted the annual asset forfeiture report to Commissioners Court on Monday, Oct. 25. The report showed that the county collected $1,168,532.03 between Sept. 1, 2015 and Aug. 31, 2016. That money stays in the seizure account until the associated criminal cases are settled. 

When defendants are found guilty, the seized funds may be transferred to the county’s forfeiture account or distributed with other agencies that assisted with the cases.

The county forfeiture fund balance stands at $178,392.63 as of Aug. 31. Another $448,945.01 remains in the seizure account, pending the outcome of those criminal cases.

State law allows the county attorney and law enforcement agencies to spend money in their forfeiture accounts on certain expenses such as training and equipment. During the reporting period, Supak’s office used $4,796.01 of their forfeiture funds to purchase a grill guard for a Texas Ranger, offense report manuals, a laptop computer and office software for the County Attorney’s office, and a narcotics detection kit for the Sheriff’s Office.