Where Have All The Drug Funds Gone?

Mon, 05 Jul 2004
Source:
Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC)Copyright: 2004 Evening Post Publishing Co.Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/567Continues: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n962/a08.html

SHERIFF GIVES SEIZED MONEY TO CITADEL

Georgia Lawman Doles Out Confiscated Drug Money To Unusual Organizations

WOODBINE, GA. - Battle lines have been drawn in one coastal Georgia county sheriff's race over how money seized from suspected drug dealers is spent. Since 1985, the Camden County Sheriff's Department has seized nearly $15 million in suspected drug money and gotten back more than $10 million of the money after it was processed by federal and state officials. Laws restrict how counties can spend the returned money, with the intent being the money will support programs that discourage illicit drug use and help law enforcement.
While much of the money is doled out to civic organizations in donations of $10,000 or less, or to buy equipment for deputies, Sheriff Bill Smith has also given substantial donations to other causes.
Rich Gamble, who is running against Smith for the Republican nomination for sheriff, said Smith has gone too far, though he concedes that no laws have been broken.
[snip]
Since 2001, Smith has donated $2,500 to a local Boy Scouts chapter, $3,000 to the Camden County High School cheerleader squad, $5,000 to the high school's band booster organization and $5,000 to the American Cancer Society. He also has donated $150,000 to Habitat for Humanity and $250,000 to his alma mater, The Citadel, in South Carolina.

Why is the most of this money going outside the county. And this is just until 2004. The rest we will never know.....