Asset forfeiture is the most effective means of
recovering property that may be used to
compensate innocent victims, in any case
involving property offenses and fraud. Indeed,
restoration of property to victims in white collar
cases is the first priority of law enforcement when
it comes to disbursing forfeited property. Much
time and effort is expended in such cases to
ensure that the wrongdoer's assets are preserved
pending trial, so that they remain available for
this purpose once the case is settled. See 18
U.S.C. § 981(e)(6) (authorizing the government to
use forfeited property to pay restitution, in civil
forfeiture cases, to the victims of the underlying
crime); 21 U.S.C. § 853(i) (same for criminal
forfeiture).