Sec. 53-397. Penalty. Forfeiture of property. Disposition of seized property. Appointment of receiver. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 53-397. Penalty. Forfeiture of property. Disposition of seized property. Appointment of receiver. (a) A person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be imprisoned for a definite term of not less than one year nor more than twenty years or may be fined not more than twenty-five thousand dollars, or both, and shall forfeit to the state: (1) Any property he has acquired, maintained or used in violation of this chapter, including profits derived therefrom and the appreciated value thereof, or, where applicable, the proceeds from the sale thereof; and (2) 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 chapter.

      (b) (1) Upon conviction of a person under this chapter the court or the jury, as the case may be, before which the defendant was tried shall determine the extent to which any property of such person is subject to forfeiture under this chapter and shall hear evidence thereon. Upon a determination thereof, the court shall render a judgment of forfeiture and authorize the Chief State's Attorney to seize in the name of the state all property subject to forfeiture under this chapter upon such terms or conditions, relating only to such matters as the time and method of such seizure, as the court shall deem proper.

      (2) If a property right is not exercisable or transferable for value by the state, it shall expire, and shall not revert to the convicted person.

      (3) If the court or the jury, as the case may be, concludes that property previously owned by the defendant would have been subject to forfeiture under this chapter but for the fact that it was transferred by the defendant prior to any judgment of forfeiture with the intention of preventing its forfeiture under this chapter, the court may set aside such transfer. The court may also render any other appropriate order reasonably necessary to protect the rights of any innocent party to any such transfer.

      (4) The court shall order the Chief State's Attorney to convert into cash all such property seized under this chapter that is not yet cash as soon as commercially feasible, and shall make provision for the rights of any innocent person or entity, governmental, business or other, that are superior to that of the state and that are then known to the court or the state's attorney or state's attorneys involved in the case. In lieu of ordering the sale of any such property, the court may (A) if it finds that the property can be used by a state governmental agency, order the property to be delivered to such agency for such use, (B) order the property to be sold or transferred to any innocent person or entity or (C) order any equitable relief with respect to the disposition of such property as it deems appropriate.

      (5) (A) To facilitate such disposition, the court may, upon motion of the Chief State's Attorney or his designee, or on its own motion, appoint one or more receivers, who shall be vested with the right of immediate possession and control of such property forfeited to the state as is designated by the court. Any such receiver shall have and exercise all powers of ownership that are reasonable and necessary for the purpose of converting into cash the property in his possession, and shall: (i) Before assuming to act as such, file with the clerk of the court by which he was appointed, a bond with such surety or sureties, and for such an amount as such court or judge may order and approve, payable to the state and conditioned upon the faithful performance of his official duties; (ii) comply with any order of the court by which he was appointed, including orders relating to the method of transfer and sale of any property in his possession and orders directing him to file reports with the court; (iii) sign, swear to and file a final report with the court and the Chief State's Attorney upon the disposition of all property in his possession, which report shall include a full and detailed account of his actions as such receiver and a statement of the services he has rendered in connection with his appointment, and such report shall be accompanied by a motion seeking the court's acceptance and approval thereof; (iv) deposit with the clerk of the court at the time the final report is filed the net proceeds received by him during the pendency of his appointment from the disposition of any property in his possession together with all interest accrued thereon.

      (B) Upon the faithful completion of his duties and the court's acceptance and approval of his final report, the receiver shall be compensated by the court from the proceeds of the sale of the property placed under his control by the payment of a sum that the court determines is fair and reasonable.

      (C) Any receiver appointed under this subdivision shall act as a fiduciary of the state. He may be removed at any time, at the pleasure of the court by which he was appointed or, if such court is not in session, by a judge thereof; and if such receiver is removed, declines to act, or dies, the court that appointed him, or, if such court is not in session, a judge thereof, may fill the vacancy.

      (6) Any money forfeited to the state under this chapter and the proceeds from the sale of any property forfeited to the state under this chapter shall be deposited in the General Fund.

      (7) At any time either before or after a judgment of forfeiture under this chapter, the Chief State's Attorney shall have the authority to compromise or otherwise remit or mitigate in whole or in part any claim or potential claim of the state arising under this chapter.

      (8) Nothing in this chapter shall in any way diminish the right of the state to exercise any of the powers conferred upon it or its agents regarding seized property under part III of chapter 959 and section 54-33g.

      (P.A. 82-343, S. 5; P.A. 84-138, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 84-138 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for the forfeiture of property "used" in violation of this chapter.

      Cited. 206 C. 421. Cited. 229 C. 479.