BIG STONE GAP, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Federal officials say two homes in Big Stone Gap should be forfeited to the United States due to their connection to the murder of a police officer.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia filed a civil complaint, which was unsealed last week, calling for the forfeiture of two homes connected to the November 2021 murder of Big Stone Gap Police Office Michael Chandler.

According to a release, the civil action is aimed at 2505 and 2512 Orr Street in Big Stone Gap.

It asks the court to forfeit the properties on the grounds that they were used to commit or facilitate criminal activities.

U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh released this statement upon filing the action:

“On November 13, 2021, Officer Michael Chandler was responding to provide a welfare check on one of these homes at approximately 4:00 AM, where he was shot and killed.  Our criminal investigation into Officer Chandler’s death resulted in federal charges against Michael White for the murder, as well as federal narcotics charges against White and 18 co-conspirators.

Our investigation also revealed that these two homes were hubs for a narcotics conspiracy that funneled narcotics to Southwest Virginia, and the owners knew about it and allowed it to proceed.  In just the 15-month period prior to White’s death, there were approximately 78 calls for service for local police to respond to these two homes, including 911 calls.  The United States Attorneys will continue to use all the federal laws and tools at our disposal to protect our communities and our citizens.”