U.S. Department
of Justice
Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section
Section Overview
The Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section prosecutes civil and criminal asset forfeiture matters arising from a wide range of federal offenses. While a majority of the cases in the section involve narcotics and money laundering violations, the section also handles significant cases in such diverse areas as bank and health care fraud, smuggling, gambling and child exploitation.
Section Leadership
Jonathan Galatzan
Jonathan Galatzan is the Chief of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section. Mr. Galatzan has been prosecuting civil and criminal asset forfeiture cases for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California since 2012, and was appointed Chief of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section in 2021.
Mr. Galatzan has provided training to AUSAs and federal and local law enforcement on asset forfeiture. In 2020, he, along with a number of his colleagues, received the Attorney General’s John Marshall Award for his work to recover over $1.1B worth of assets misappropriated from 1 Malaysia Development Berhad. He received his B.A. degree from U.C. Santa Barbara and his J.D. from Loyola Law School.
Recent Cases
October 11, 2022
Press Release
Santa Barbara Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison for $14 Million Ponzi Scheme, Tax Evasion, ID Theft and Other Felonies
September 26, 2022
Press Release
Irvine Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Obtaining More Than $5 Million in COVID-Relief Loans for Sham Businesses
August 1, 2022
Press Release
Former Owner of T-Mobile Retail Store in Eagle Rock Found Guilty of Committing $25 Million Scheme to Illegally Unlock Cellphones
July 15, 2022
Press Release
Southern California Men Plead Guilty in Scheme to Manufacture and Sell AR-15-Type ‘Ghost Guns’
June 24, 2022
Press Release
Coachella Valley Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Role in Scheme in Which Doctors Took Bribes for Spinal Surgery Referrals
Section Contact Information
The United States Attorney's Office
Central District of California
Criminal Division
ATTN: Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section
312 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012