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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Marshals Service Asset Forfeiture Division is
hosting a preview and live auction of forfeited jewelry assets Friday and
Saturday.
A public preview will be held Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CST) at the
Hilton America-Houston Hotel, 1600 Lamar St., Houston, Texas. The live
auction will be held at the same location Saturday at 10 a.m. (CST). The
auction will also provide online bidding via simulcast at
www.txauction.com.
The live auction and Webcast features more than 400 lots of forfeited
jewelry, artwork, coins, furs and collectibles. Auction registration and
pre-bidding are available at
www.txauction.com.
The items up for auction once belonged to different individuals and
companies found guilty of a crime and ordered to forfeit ill-gotten gains
from their criminal activities by a court of law.
Items up for bid include:
- Jewelry: Lady’s 18ky diamond "Riviera" link necklace with center diamond in
14kw; 1 center radiant cut diamond, 21.95 carats; platinum link necklace,
116 round brilliant cut diamonds, est. 82.10 carats; 950 platinum single
diamond ear stud; 1 round brilliant cut natural diamond, 8.49 carats
- Watches: Men’s 950 platinum Rolex O.P. Pearl Master diamond watch; men’s
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore limited edition diamond chronograph
watch, bezel, dial, and case pave set with 421 diamonds; men’s DeWitt
Acedemia Seconde Retrograde limited edition diamond watch
- Artwork: realism painting (36” x 30”) depicting sunflowers in a blue and
white vase, by Evan Wilson, in a gold gilded frame (43.5” x 37.5”)
- Misc: Coins, gold bullion and furs
The U.S. Marshals Service administers the Department of Justice’s Asset
Forfeiture Program by managing and disposing of properties seized and
forfeited by federal law enforcement agencies and U.S. attorneys nationwide.
The program has become a key part of the federal government’s efforts to
combat major criminal activities. Currently, the U.S. Marshals manage more
than $2 billion worth of property.
The Asset Forfeiture Program’s goals are: stripping criminals of their
ill-gotten gains, improving law enforcement cooperation and enhancing law
enforcement through equitable revenue sharing. The proceeds from the sale of
forfeited assets such as real property, vehicles, businesses, financial
instruments, vessels, aircraft and jewelry are deposited into the AFF and
subsequently used to further law enforcement initiatives. Moreover, under
the Equitable Sharing Program, the proceeds from sales are often shared with
the state and local law enforcement agencies that participated in the
investigations leading to the forfeiture of the assets. This important
program enhances law enforcement cooperation between state, local and
federal agencies.
The Asset Forfeiture Program consists of the U.S. Marshals Service; U.S.
Attorneys Offices; FBI; DEA; ATF; Justice Management Division, Asset
Forfeiture Management Staff; Criminal Division, Asset Forfeiture and Money
Laundering Section; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector
General; DOD, Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Department of State,
Bureau of Diplomatic Security; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of
Criminal Investigations; and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
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