Section 5325 Of Article 5. Criminal Forfeiture From California Financial Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 5.
5325
. Notwithstanding that no response or claim has been filed
pursuant to Section 5322, in all cases where property is forfeited
pursuant to this article and, where necessary, sold by the Department
of General Services or local governmental entity, the money
forfeited or the proceeds of sale shall be distributed by the state
or local governmental entity as follows:
(a) To the bona fide or innocent purchaser, conditional sales
vendor, or holder of a valid lien, mortgage or security interest, if
any, and from the balance of any forfeited funds to any victim of a
crime enumerated in Section 5320 committed by the defendant, up to
the amount of his or her interest in the property or proceeds, when
the court declaring the forfeiture orders a distribution to that
person. The court shall endeavor to discover all such lienholders and
protect their interests and may, at its discretion, order the
proceeds placed in escrow for up to an additional 60 days to ensure
that all valid claims are received and processed. The aggregate of
all money distributed pursuant to this subdivision and all money
received pursuant to a restitution order of a court shall not exceed
the amount of the person's interest in the property or proceeds.
(b) To the Department of General Services or local governmental
entity for all expenditures made or incurred by it in connection with
the sale of the property, including expenditures for any necessary
repairs, storage, or transportation of any property seized under this
article.
(c) The balance of forfeiture funds remaining after the
obligations in subdivisions (a) and (b) have been satisfied shall be
paid to the general fund of the state or local governmental entity,
whichever prosecutes.