Under Chapter59, which would be considered 'proceeds'?

• A. The contraband itself
• B. The money used to purchase the contraband
• C. The crime scene evidence
• D. Property purchased with money earned from the crime

Answer: (D)

Proceeds are assets that come from the crime itself—money or property obtained as a result of the illegal activity. When funds earned from a crime are used to buy property, that property remains tied to the criminal activity and is treated as proceeds. So, property purchased with money earned from the crime directly represents value derived from the offense, which is why it’s the correct example of a proceeding asset under Chapter 59.

The contraband itself is typically treated as an instrumentality of the crime rather than proceeds. It’s the item involved in the wrongdoing, not money or assets derived from the offense. Crime scene evidence is not forfeitable as proceeds because it’s used for investigation and prosecuting the crime, not acquired with the crime’s proceeds. The nuance about the money used to purchase contraband can be tricky, but the focus is that the actual asset purchased with illicit funds—i.e., property bought with money earned from the crime—embodies the proceeds.