U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian announced that the nearly $10m seized from the defunct online sportsbook Legendz Sports were distributed to six law enforcement agencies that worked on the case.

U.S. Marshal’s Service distributed a total of $9,628,093.75. The largest amount, $4.66m, will go to the Albany County Sheriff’s department, $862,468 to the Albany County district attorney’s office and $363,833.85 to Saratoga County District Attorney’s office. The remaining funds will be distributed to the Internal Revenue Service ($1.6m), Broward county sheriff’s department in south Florida ($104,946), and the FBI ($1.9m).

“Stripping criminals of illegal profits deprives them of the fuel that sustains their illegitimate enterprises,” said Hartunian.  “In illegal gambling, money is both the way the crime is committed and the reason for committing it.  No money equals no crime.”

“Forfeiting the proceeds and instrumentalities of crime puts the money to work for good – helping the victims of crime, funding community programs and providing resources to be used to promote public safety,” Hartunian added. “Such sharing can enable a local police chief, sheriff, or district attorney to commit the necessary resources to conduct a complex, long term investigation that in the end enhances public safety.”