United States Attorneys have authority to settle civil and criminal forfeiture cases as follows:

1. • any case in which the amount involved does not exceed $1,000,000, regardless of the portion of the property that would be released as a result of the settlement; and
2. • any case in which the amount involved exceeds $1,000,000 but does not exceed $5 million, if the amount to be released does not exceed 15 percent of the amount involved.

In all other cases, the United States Attorney must obtain approval of the settlement by theMoney Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF). The chief of MNF has the authority to approve any settlement required to be submitted for approval, unless the amount to be released exceeds 15 percent of the amount involved and is more than $2 million; in such cases, the settlement must be approved by the Deputy Attorney General. See 28 C.F.R. §§ 0.160, 0.161; Attorney General Order No. 1598-92. See Chapter 11 of the Asset Forfeiture Policy Manual ("Settlement Approval Authorities").

[updated January 2026] [cited in JM 9-2.400; 9-119.010]