Pubdate: Tue, 27 Dec 2005
Source: Bucks County Courier Times (PA)
Copyright: 2005 Calkins Newspapers. Inc.
Contact: http://www.phillyburbs.com/feedback/content-cti.shtml
Website: http://www.phillyburbs.com/couriertimes/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1026
Author: Melissa Milewski
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

DA PUTS GOODS UP FOR SALE ON EBAY

William Fulton is not only paying his debt to society for cooking up 
methamphetamine at his Hatfield Township apartment. He is also 
helping Montgomery County fund future drug investigations.

About $6,000 worth of items confiscated from criminals like Fulton, 
who was sentenced in 2003 to state prison, have been sold on the 
Montgomery County District Attorney's Office Internet auction site on 
eBay. The site was created about six months ago.

The proceeds from the sales pay for expenses such as overtime pay 
related to county drug investigations, said Montgomery County 
District Attorney Bruce Castor.

Castor said "unusual" items, like the guitars seized from Fulton's 
home, were perfect for selling on eBay but the office is not sure 
what else will be posted for sale.

Castor said his office is still discussing whether seized vehicles 
will be sold on the site. He said it still hasn't been determined 
because of the amount of work needed to put items up for auction 
online. Photos need to be taken, the information needs to be posted 
online, someone has to keep track of the auction and then purchase 
and pickup arrangements have to be made.

The county might continue to sell cars at auction houses instead.

The public can visit the office's eBay site and bid on items; top 
bidders get the goods.

"It worked great when we had the unusual items like the guitars, 
amplifiers and electronic equipment, but it's a slow process."

Currently, the district attorney's office does not have anything up 
on its site for sale.

A district attorney's office is permitted to sell forfeited items 
when it can prove to the court that the property was purchased with 
drug money. Stolen items are not sold.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman