DA gives police and sheriff cash seized from Wilkes drug dealers

District Attorney Dennis Sanders (center) presents Washington Police Chief Mike Davis and Lt. Joe Nelson a check for $5,873. Chief Deputy Mike Sisson received a $3,500 check for the Sheriff's Office.

Money seized from drug dealers in Wilkes County is now being used to fight crime here.

District Attorney Dennis Sanders presented checks in the amount of $3,565.60 recently to Chief Deputy Mike Sisson of the Wilkes County Sheriff's Officeand $5,873.40 to Chief Mike Davis and Investigator Joe Nelson of the Washington Police Department.

These checks represent a part of the proceeds from forfeitures of illegal drug activities in three separate drug cases, Sanders said. "Under the condemnation statute of Georgia, the state can seize and condemn money and physical objects used in drug violations under certain circumstances. The District Attorney has the authority to then funnel these assets back to state and local law enforcement for their use in the fight against crime."

According to Dennis Sanders, District Attorney of the Toombs Judicial Circuit, "We remain committed to using every available means, within the limits of the laws, to discourage illegal drug violations. Often times mere criminal prosecution of those involved in illegal drug activities does not send a strong enough message. In addition to the criminal punishments, economic sanctions have and will continue to be used in the future."

Saying that it's not enough just for the drug dealer to be punished and be allowed to keep the profitsof his illegal drug business, Sanders added, "That profit should be seized and placed where it can do the most good to discourage future illegal drug activity. I feel confidentthat the Sheriff's Officeof Wilkes Co. and the Police Dept. of Washington can and will finda better use for these funds than the drug violators."

Under Georgia law, condemned funds can only be used by law enforcement for law enforcement and must be used in addition to other budgeted items for those respective offices.Sanders said, "The Sheriff's Officeand the City Police are to be commended in these cases for their continued efforts to insure that these cases resulted in the successful termination that we see today."

Sanders then warned criminals: "I want the message to go out. If you commit a serious drug offense in our circuit, you will not only face criminal punishment, but we will do our dead-level best to take your money, your car, your house, or whatever you have purchased with your illegal profits.We are not going to sit by and let you make a living from the use and sale of illegal drugs. The citizens of Wilkes County, our law enforcement officers, nor I will accept this illegal conduct that has brought so much destruction and misery to our society."

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