725 ILCS 175/ Narcotics Profit Forfeiture Act.

(725 ILCS 175/1) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1651)

Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Narcotics Profit Forfeiture Act.

(Source: P.A. 82-940.)

(725 ILCS 175/2) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1652)

Sec. 2. Legislative Declaration. Narcotics racketeering is a far-reaching and extremely profitable criminal enterprise. Racketeering schemes persist despite the threat of prosecution and the actual prosecution and imprisonment of individual participants because existing sanctions do not effectively reach the money and other assets generated by such schemes. It is therefore necessary to supplement existing sanctions by mandating forfeiture of money and other assets generated by narcotics racketeering activities. Forfeiture diminishes the financial incentives which encourage and sustain narcotics racketeering, and secures for the People of the State of Illinois assets to be used for enforcement of laws governing narcotics activity.

(Source: P.A. 82-940.)

(725 ILCS 175/3) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1653)

Sec. 3. Definitions.

(a) "Narcotics activity" means:

1. Any conduct punishable as a felony under the Cannabis Control Act or the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or

2. Any conduct punishable, by imprisonment for more than one year, as an offense against the law of the United States or any State, concerning narcotics, controlled substances, dangerous drugs, or any substance or things scheduled or listed under the Cannabis Control Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act.

(b) "Pattern of narcotics activity" means 2 or more acts of narcotics activity of which at least 2 such acts were committed within 5 years of each other. At least one of those acts of narcotics activity must have been committed after the effective date of this Act and at least one of such acts shall be or shall have been punishable as a Class X, Class 1 or Class 2 felony.

(c) "Person" includes any individual or entity capable of holding a legal or beneficial interest in property.

(d) "Enterprise" includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other entity, or group of individuals associated in fact, although not a legal entity.

(Source: P.A. 94-556, eff. 9-11-05.)

(725 ILCS 175/4) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1654)

Sec. 4. A person commits narcotics racketeering when he:

(a) Receives income knowing such income to be derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of narcotics activity in which he participated, or for which he is accountable under Section 5-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012; or

(b) Receives income, knowing such income to be derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of narcotics activity in which he participated, or for which he is accountable under Section 5-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012, and he uses or invests, directly or indirectly, any part of such income, or the proceeds of such income, in acquisition of any interest in, or the establishment or operation of, any enterprise doing business in the State of Illinois; or

(c) Knowingly, through a pattern of narcotics activity in which he participated, or for which he is accountable under Section 5-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012, acquires or maintains, directly or indirectly, any interest in or contract of any enterprise which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, business in the State of Illinois; or

(d) Being a person employed by or associated with any enterprise doing business in the State of Illinois, he knowingly conducts or participates, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such enterprise's affairs through a pattern of narcotics activity in which he participated, or for which he is accountable under Section 5-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

(Source: P.A. 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

(725 ILCS 175/5) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1655)

Sec. 5. (a) A person who commits the offense of narcotics racketeering shall:

(1) be guilty of a Class 1 felony; and

(2) be subject to a fine of up to $250,000.

A person who commits the offense of narcotics racketeering or who violates Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act shall forfeit to the State of Illinois: (A) any profits or proceeds and any property or property interest he has acquired or maintained in violation of this Act or Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act or has used to facilitate a violation of this Act that the court determines, after a forfeiture hearing, under subsection (b) of this Section to have been acquired or maintained as a result of narcotics racketeering or violating Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act, or used to facilitate narcotics racketeering; and (B) any interest in, security of, claim against, or property or contractual right of any kind affording a source of influence over, any enterprise which he has established, operated, controlled, conducted, or participated in the conduct of, in violation of this Act or Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act, that the court determines, after a forfeiture hearing, under subsection (b) of this Section to have been acquired or maintained as a result of narcotics racketeering or violating Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act or used to facilitate narcotics racketeering.

(b) The court shall, upon petition by the Attorney General or State's Attorney, at any time subsequent to the filing of an information or return of an indictment, conduct a hearing to determine whether any property or property interest is subject to forfeiture under this Act. At the forfeiture hearing the people shall have the burden of establishing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that property or property interests are subject to forfeiture under this Act. There is a rebuttable presumption at such hearing that any property or property interest of a person charged by information or indictment with narcotics racketeering or who is convicted of a violation of Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act is subject to forfeiture under this Section if the State establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that:

(1) such property or property interest was acquired by such person during the period of the violation of this Act or Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act or within a reasonable time after such period; and

(2) there was no likely source for such property or property interest other than the violation of this Act or Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act.

(c) In an action brought by the People of the State of Illinois under this Act, wherein any restraining order, injunction or prohibition or any other action in connection with any property or property interest subject to forfeiture under this Act is sought, the circuit court which shall preside over the trial of the person or persons charged with narcotics racketeering as defined in Section 4 of this Act or violating Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act shall first determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the person or persons so charged has committed the offense of narcotics racketeering as defined in Section 4 of this Act or a violation of Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act and whether the property or property interest is subject to forfeiture pursuant to this Act.

In order to make such a determination, prior to entering any such order, the court shall conduct a hearing without a jury, wherein the People shall establish that there is: (i) probable cause that the person or persons so charged have committed the offense of narcotics racketeering or violating Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act and (ii) probable cause that any property or property interest may be subject to forfeiture pursuant to this Act. Such hearing may be conducted simultaneously with a preliminary hearing, if the prosecution is commenced by information or complaint, or by motion of the People, at any stage in the proceedings. The court may accept a finding of probable cause at a preliminary hearing following the filing of an information charging the offense of narcotics racketeering as defined in Section 4 of this Act or the return of an indictment by a grand jury charging the offense of narcotics racketeering as defined in Section 4 of this Act or after a charge is filed for violating Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act as sufficient evidence of probable cause as provided in item (i) above.

Upon such a finding, the circuit court shall enter such restraining order, injunction or prohibition, or shall take such other action in connection with any such property or property interest subject to forfeiture under this Act, as is necessary to insure that such property is not removed from the jurisdiction of the court, concealed, destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the owner of that property or property interest prior to a forfeiture hearing under subsection (b) of this Section. The Attorney General or State's Attorney shall file a certified copy of such restraining order, injunction or other prohibition with the recorder of deeds or registrar of titles of each county where any such property of the defendant may be located. No such injunction, restraining order or other prohibition shall affect the rights of any bona fide purchaser, mortgagee, judgment creditor or other lien holder arising prior to the date of such filing.

The court may, at any time, upon verified petition by the defendant, conduct a hearing to release all or portions of any such property or interest which the court previously determined to be subject to forfeiture or subject to any restraining order, injunction, or prohibition or other action. The court may release such property to the defendant for good cause shown and within the sound discretion of the court.

(d) Prosecution under this Act may be commenced by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney.

(e) Upon an order of forfeiture being entered pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section, the court shall authorize the Attorney General to seize any property or property interest declared forfeited under this Act and under such terms and conditions as the court shall deem proper. Any property or property interest that has been the subject of an entered restraining order, injunction or prohibition or any other action filed under subsection (c) shall be forfeited unless the claimant can show by a preponderance of the evidence that the property or property interest has not been acquired or maintained as a result of narcotics racketeering or has not been used to facilitate narcotics racketeering.

(f) The Attorney General or his designee is authorized to sell all property forfeited and seized pursuant to this Act, unless such property is required by law to be destroyed or is harmful to the public, and, after the deduction of all requisite expenses of administration and sale, shall distribute the proceeds of such sale, along with any moneys forfeited or seized, in accordance with subsection (g) or (h), whichever is applicable.

(g) All monies and the sale proceeds of all other property forfeited and seized pursuant to this Act shall be distributed as follows:

(1) An amount equal to 50% shall be distributed to the unit of local government whose officers or employees conducted the investigation into narcotics racketeering and caused the arrest or arrests and prosecution leading to the forfeiture. Amounts distributed to units of local government shall be used for enforcement of laws governing narcotics activity or for public education in the community or schools in the prevention or detection of the abuse of drugs or alcohol. In the event, however, that the investigation, arrest or arrests and prosecution leading to the forfeiture were undertaken solely by a State agency, the portion provided hereunder shall be paid into the Drug Traffic Prevention Fund in the State treasury to be used for enforcement of laws governing narcotics activity.

(2) An amount equal to 12.5% shall be distributed to the county in which the prosecution resulting in the forfeiture was instituted, deposited in a special fund in the county treasury and appropriated to the State's Attorney for use in the enforcement of laws governing narcotics activity or for public education in the community or schools in the prevention or detection of the abuse of drugs or alcohol.

An amount equal to 12.5% shall be distributed to the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor and deposited in the Narcotics Profit Forfeiture Fund, which is hereby created in the State treasury, to be used by the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor for additional expenses incurred in prosecuting appeals arising under this Act. Any amounts remaining in the Fund after all additional expenses have been paid shall be used by the Office to reduce the participating county contributions to the Office on a pro-rated basis as determined by the board of governors of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor based on the populations of the participating counties.

(3) An amount equal to 25% shall be paid into the Drug Traffic Prevention Fund in the State treasury to be used by the Illinois State Police for funding Metropolitan Enforcement Groups created pursuant to the Intergovernmental Drug Laws Enforcement Act. Any amounts remaining in the Fund after full funding of Metropolitan Enforcement Groups shall be used for enforcement, by the State or any unit of local government, of laws governing narcotics activity or for public education in the community or schools in the prevention or detection of the abuse of drugs or alcohol.

(h) Where the investigation or indictment for the offense of narcotics racketeering or a violation of Section 3 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act has occurred under the provisions of the Statewide Grand Jury Act, all monies and the sale proceeds of all other property shall be distributed as follows:

(1) 60% shall be distributed to the metropolitan enforcement group, local, municipal, county, or State law enforcement agency or agencies which conducted or participated in the investigation resulting in the forfeiture. The distribution shall bear a reasonable relationship to the degree of direct participation of the law enforcement agency in the effort resulting in the forfeiture, taking into account the total value of the property forfeited and the total law enforcement effort with respect to the violation of the law on which the forfeiture is based. Amounts distributed to the agency or agencies shall be used for the enforcement of laws governing cannabis and controlled substances or for public education in the community or schools in the prevention or detection of the abuse of drugs or alcohol.

(2) 25% shall be distributed by the Attorney General as grants to drug education, treatment and prevention programs licensed or approved by the Department of Human Services. In making these grants, the Attorney General shall take into account the plans and service priorities of, and the needs identified by, the Department of Human Services.

(3) 15% shall be distributed to the Attorney General and the State's Attorney, if any, participating in the prosecution resulting in the forfeiture. The distribution shall bear a reasonable relationship to the degree of direct participation in the prosecution of the offense, taking into account the total value of the property forfeited and the total amount of time spent in preparing and presenting the case, the complexity of the case and other similar factors. Amounts distributed to the Attorney General under this paragraph shall be retained in a fund held by the State Treasurer as ex-officio custodian to be designated as the Statewide Grand Jury Prosecution Fund and paid out upon the direction of the Attorney General for expenses incurred in criminal prosecutions arising under the Statewide Grand Jury Act. Amounts distributed to a State's Attorney shall be deposited in a special fund in the county treasury and appropriated to the State's Attorney for use in the enforcement of laws governing narcotics activity or for public education in the community or schools in the prevention or detection of the abuse of drugs or alcohol.

(i) All monies deposited pursuant to this Act in the Drug Traffic Prevention Fund established under Section 5-9-1.2 of the Unified Code of Corrections are appropriated, on a continuing basis, to the Illinois State Police to be used for funding Metropolitan Enforcement Groups created pursuant to the Intergovernmental Drug Laws Enforcement Act or otherwise for the enforcement of laws governing narcotics activity or for public education in the community or schools in the prevention or detection of the abuse of drugs or alcohol.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

(725 ILCS 175/5.1) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1655.1)

Sec. 5.1. (a) Whenever any person pleads guilty to, is found guilty of or is placed on supervision for an offense under this Act, a fine may be levied in addition to any other penalty imposed by the court.

(b) In determining whether to impose a fine under this Section and the amount, time for payment and method of payment of any fine so imposed, the court shall

(1) consider the defendant's income, regardless of source, the defendant's earning capacity and the defendant's financial resources, as well as the nature of the burden the fine will impose on the defendant and any person legally or financially dependent upon the defendant;

(2) consider the proof received at trial, or as a result of a plea of guilty, concerning the full street value of the controlled substances, cannabis or the drug paraphernalia seized and any profits or other proceeds derived by the defendant from the violation of this Act;

(3) take into account any other pertinent equitable considerations; and

(4) give primary consideration to the need to deprive the defendant of illegally obtained profits or other proceeds from the offense.

For the purpose of paragraph (2) of this subsection, "street value" shall be determined by the court on the basis of testimony of law enforcement personnel and the defendant as to the amount seized and such testimony as may be required by the court as to the current street value of the cannabis, controlled substances or drug paraphernalia seized.

(c) As a condition of a fine, the court may require that payment be made in specified installments or within a specified period of time, but such period shall not be greater than the maximum applicable term of probation or imprisonment, whichever is greater. Unless otherwise specified, payment of a fine shall be due immediately.

(d) If a fine for a violation of this Act is imposed on an organization, it is the duty of each individual authorized to make disbursements of the assets of the organization to pay the fine from assets of the organization.

(e) (1) A defendant who has been sentenced to pay a fine, and who has paid part but not all of such fine, may petition the court for an extension of the time for payment or modification of the method of payment.

(2) The court may grant a petition made pursuant to this subsection if it finds that

(i) the circumstances that warranted payment by the time or method specified no longer exist; or

(ii) it is otherwise unjust to require payment of the fine by the time or method specified.

(Source: P.A. 86-271.)

(725 ILCS 175/5.2) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1655.2)

Sec. 5.2. (a) Twelve and one-half percent of all amounts collected as fines pursuant to the provisions of this Act shall be paid into the Youth Drug Abuse Prevention Fund, which is hereby created in the State treasury, to be used by the Department of Human Services for the funding of programs and services for drug-abuse treatment, and prevention and education services, for juveniles.

(b) Eighty-seven and one-half percent of the proceeds of all fines received under the provisions of this Act shall be transmitted to and deposited in the treasurer's office at the level of government as follows:

(1) If such seizure was made by a combination of law enforcement personnel representing differing units of local government, the court levying the fine shall equitably allocate 50% of the fine among these units of local government and shall allocate 37 1/2% to the county general corporate fund. In the event that the seizure was made by law enforcement personnel representing a unit of local government from a municipality where the number of inhabitants exceeds 2 million in population, the court levying the fine shall allocate 87 1/2% of the fine to that unit of local government. If the seizure was made by a combination of law enforcement personnel representing differing units of local government, and at least one of those units represents a municipality where the number of inhabitants exceeds 2 million in population, the court shall equitably allocate 87 1/2% of the proceeds of the fines received among the differing units of local government.

(2) If such seizure was made by State law enforcement personnel, then the court shall allocate 37 1/2% to the State treasury and 50% to the county general corporate fund.

(3) If a State law enforcement agency in combination with a law enforcement agency or agencies of a unit or units of local government conducted the seizure, the court shall equitably allocate 37 1/2% of the fines to or among the law enforcement agency or agencies of the unit or units of local government which conducted the seizure and shall allocate 50% to the county general corporate fund.

(c) The proceeds of all fines allocated to the law enforcement agency or agencies of the unit or units of local government pursuant to subsection (b) shall be made available to that law enforcement agency as expendable receipts for use in the enforcement of laws regulating controlled substances and cannabis. The proceeds of fines awarded to the State treasury shall be deposited in a special fund known as the Drug Traffic Prevention Fund. Monies from this fund may be used by the Illinois State Police for use in the enforcement of laws regulating controlled substances and cannabis; to satisfy funding provisions of the Intergovernmental Drug Laws Enforcement Act; to defray costs and expenses associated with returning violators of the Cannabis Control Act and the Illinois Controlled Substances Act only, as provided in those Acts, when punishment of the crime shall be confinement of the criminal in the penitentiary; and all other monies shall be paid into the general revenue fund in the State treasury.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

(725 ILCS 175/6) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1656)

Sec. 6. (a) The circuit courts of the State shall have jurisdiction to prevent and restrain violations of this Act by issuing appropriate orders, including, but not limited to: ordering any person to divest himself of any interest, direct or indirect, in any enterprise; imposing reasonable restriction on the future activities or investment of any person, including, but not limited to, prohibiting any person from engaging in the same type of endeavor as the enterprise engaged in, the activities of which affect business in the State of Illinois; or ordering dissolution or reorganization of any enterprise, making due provisions for the rights of innocent persons.

(b) The Attorney General or the State's Attorney may institute proceedings under this Section. In any action brought by the State of Illinois under this Section, the court shall proceed as soon as practicable to the hearing and determination thereof. Pending that determination thereof, the court may at any time enter such temporary restraining orders, preliminary or permanent injunctions, or prohibitions, or take such other actions including the acceptance of satisfactory performance bonds by a defendant, as it shall deem proper.

(c) Any person injured in his business, person or property by reason of a violation of this Act may sue the violator therefor in any appropriate circuit court and shall recover threefold the damages he sustains and the cost of the action, including a reasonable attorney's fee.

(d) A final judgment entered in favor of the People of the State of Illinois in any criminal proceeding brought under this Act shall estop the defendant in the criminal case from denying the essential allegations of the criminal offense in any subsequent civil proceeding brought under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 84-545.)

(725 ILCS 175/6.5)

Sec. 6.5. Reporting. Property seized or forfeited under this Act is subject to reporting under the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-512, eff. 7-1-18.)

(725 ILCS 175/7) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1657)

Sec. 7. Any civil action or proceeding under this Act against any person may be instituted in the circuit court for any county in which such person resides, is found, has an agent, transacts his affairs, or in which property that is the subject of these proceedings is located.

(Source: P.A. 82-940.)

(725 ILCS 175/8) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1658)

Sec. 8. It is the intent of the General Assembly that this Act be liberally construed so as to effect the purposes of this Act and be construed in accordance with similar provisions contained in Title IX of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, as amended (18 U.S.C. 1961-1968).

(Source: P.A. 82-940.)

(725 ILCS 175/9) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1659)

Sec. 9. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is invalid, such invalidation shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are declared to be severable.

(Source: P.A. 82-940.)

(725 ILCS 175/11) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1660)

Sec. 11. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 82-940.)