NCJ Number
148215
Date Published
1993
Length
71 pages
Annotation
This monograph describes the initiation, development, and implementation of the Financial Investigation (Finvest) Program, created in 1989 by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to help State and local law enforcement agencies implement specialized projects to investigate and prosecute drug-related financial crimes.
Abstract
Although each Finvest project includes participation by multiple agencies, the BJA requires a single State or local law enforcement agency to apply for and administratively host each project. During 1993, agencies in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Oregon, and South Carolina served as project grantees. Each project was comprised of participating law enforcement agencies, with the mandatory inclusion of a State or local law enforcement agency, a prosecuting agency, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Projects had to specify how funds would be used according to the following areas: determine how funds were obtained for illegal drug purchases, discover how profits from illegal drug transactions were laundered; identify profits of illegal drug traffickers, identify assets seized from illegal drug traffickers, and seize assets under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Finvest projects were expected to develop a drug law enforcement strategy, recover criminal assets, investigate and prosecute drug traffickers, reduce fractional and duplicative investigations and prosecutions, use civil remedies where possible, and coordinate efforts with statewide drug prosecution projects. A summary description of each Finvest project is provided that focuses on target areas, participating agencies, and funding. Lessons learned during the course of Finvest projects are discussed. Appendixes contain sample interagency agreements, a sample case plan, and recommended project objectives. 16 tables