When the feds confiscate property and proceeds from criminal investigations, a federal program often shares that money with local District Attorneys.
Called the "Equitable Sharing Program," federal prosecutors stopped sharing those confiscated funds with the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office back in 2020 when a previous administration was under federal investigation.
Fast forward to now, when Congressional leaders and the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office both stated that the feds will resume sharing confiscated cash and revenue with Suffolk County.
According to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Department of the Treasury recently informed the SCDA they are due to receive approximately $13 million, per a long-awaited federal funding readmission.
Local congressmen such as Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota were instrumental in this effort, providing key assists for Tierney’s runaway goal shot.
“Restoring Suffolk County’s access to Equitable Sharing funding is a matter of public safety. These resources are critical to ensuring our law enforcement agencies have what they need to fight crime, prosecute major cases, and do their jobs effectively,” said Congressman Garbarino.
The Sayville native was proud to work alongside DA Tierney “to help resolve this issue and secure the tools our prosecutors and investigators need to protect the people of Suffolk County.”
Tierney–who is campaigning for re-election this November—learned upon taking office in 2022 that in Sept. 2020, the DA’s Office was suspended from Equitable Sharing Funding.
On. Sept 11th of that year, then-DA Timothy D. Sini received a subpoena as part of a federal investigation into money laundering operations by his own administration and disgraced former DA Thomas Spota's.
Fast-forward to February 28th, 2025: the DOJ officially closed its investigation, opening up a clear lane for Tierney’s team to no longer be beleaguered by limitations levied thanks to the faulty leadership of his since-fallen predecessors.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office applied for readmission to the Equitable Sharing Programs overseen by the DOJ and the Treasury Department, respectively.
“For the past four years, the people of Suffolk County have not been receiving this significant law enforcement funding due to the investigation of prior Suffolk DA administrations,” said DA Tierney. “This funding will be used for the Gilgo Homicide prosecution, as well as fighting deadly fentanyl, human trafficking, gang activity, illegal firearms and all manner of criminal activity.”
Congressman LaLota weighed in on the multi-pronged moment of vindication as well, calling the SCDA’s federal funding reinstatement a “win for Suffolk County and law and order.”
“Accountability in government is essential to maintaining the trust and safety of our communities,” he said.