The law allows local and federal law enforcement agencies to seize the proceeds of alleged criminal activity. This happened recently in Greenville County, where state and federal law enforcement uncovered a money laundering and bank fraud scheme. Authorities seized $2.1 million; Greenville County will receive $700,000.

The sheriff of Greenville County, Steve Loftis reported that the money would be used for the K-9 program, forensic computer labs and the air unit, saving taxpayers the cost of these parts of the county's law enforcement operation.

The scheme had ties to online poker gambling. Two foreign shell companies sent money into the U.S., including South Carolina, processing gambling proceeds for the online poker industry. U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles reported that more than $40 million was laundered through the U.S. from October 2010 through February 2011, much of it to South Carolina poker players.

The scheme operated in violation of state and federal banking gambling laws. There have been no arrests in the matter because the principal operators of the scheme are not in the United States. The investigation did not target individual online poker players, who are found especially in Upstate South Carolina.

Source: Greenvilleonline.com, "Sheriff's Office to get $700,000 from seizure", Oct. 14, 2011.