Los Angeles Safe Deposit Box Forfeiture Abuse
The FBI raid of Private Vault in Beverly Hills. The FBI opened 1,400 safe deposit boxes and seized over $86 million in cash from the 1,400 safe-deposit boxes. The FBI lied to the Magistrate Judge in securing the seizure warrant. The FBI published many articles on the abuse from that raid:
FBI searching boxes at vaults in Beverly Hills
LA Times (4-08-21): After FBI seizure of safe deposit boxes in Beverly Hills, legal challenges mount
LA Times (6-09-21): FBI wants to keep fortune Beverly Hills Seizure. Is it an abuse of power?
LA Times (6-20-21) FBI Is Trying to Keep More Cash Seized from a Beverly Hills Vault
LA Times (6-24-21) Judge Tells FBI It Can’t Keep Millions Seized from Beverly Hills Vault
LA Times (9-23-22): FBI misled a judge on Beverly Hills safe deposit box seizure
Federalist (9-27-22) FBI Seized $86 Million In Safe Boxes Raid by Duping Judge For Warrant
Business Insider (10-07-22) Judge dismisses case over FBI raid of 1,400 private safe-deposit boxes
Court Order (9-29-22) Court order in LA Vault Forfeiture Abuse Case
Black Enterprise (3-27-23) FBI Seized $40,000 From Couple Two Years After Safe Deposit Abuse
NPR Articles on Dirty Money Asset Seizures and Forfeitures
NPR (5-12-09) Texas Case May Spur Drug Money Rule Change: The NPR series Dirty Money revealed how some police agencies abuse a law that allows them to confiscate suspected drug money. The problems continue, but in Texas that might be about to change. A police scandal has added urgency to reform efforts in the statehouse.
NPR (6-21-08) The Surprising Truth About Dirty Money: Nine months of reporting on “dirty money” — money seized from suspected drug traffickers — leads one reporter to the conclusion that you often find what you weren’t looking for when digging into a story.
NPR (6-16-08) Spending of Drug Money Questioned: Federal rules allow local law enforcement agencies to seize drug money headed south to Mexico. Millions of dollars are at stake. The system has strengths but critics say there’s too little oversight of how the money is spent.
NPR (6-18-08) Sheriff Under Scrutiny over Drug Money Spending: Sheriff Bill Smith — once considered one of the most successful sheriffs in the nation at confiscating drug money off the highways — is now the subject of a federal grand jury investigation into whether he misused the forfeiture funds.
NPR (6-17-08) Deputy Has Midas Touch in Asset Seizures: Chief Deputy Eddie Ingram’s skill at sniffing out drug money has led to millions of dollars in drug asset seizures over the past 15 years. The departments he has worked for are allowed to pocket up to 80 percent of his hauls.
NPR (6-16-08) Seized Drug Assets Pad Police Budgets: Justice Department data show that the amount of drug-related assets confiscated since 2004 has tripled, from $567 million to $1.6 billion. Critics claim some law enforcement agencies have become “addicted to drug money” in their quest to fill their own coffers.
NPR (6-16-08) Cash Seizures by Police Prompt Court Fights: Law enforcement officials can confiscate money without ever charging anyone with a crime, as long as they can prove it’s tied to illegal activity. But sometimes they take money even when they can’t connect it to a crime.
NPR (6-15-08) A Primer on Dirty Money: The ins and outs of the drug asset forfeiture process.
News Paper Articles on Seizure and Forfeitures
News Paper Articles on Seizure and Forfeitures
FBI Seizures and Forfeitures
USA Today (9-09-2014): Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents seized more than $65 million in bank deposits and cash
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/10/la-money-laundering-raid/15411099/
USA Today (7-16-2021): Innocent people shouldn’t lose cash to police in civil asset forfeiture
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/todaysdebate/2021/07/16/innocent-lose-cash-police-civil-asset-forfeiture/7903000002/
LA Times (5-10-2022): FBI gives up attempt to confiscate more than $1 million in California pot-store cash
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-05-10/fbi-returns-marijuana-cash-seized-armored-cars-california
CNN (1-31-2022): FBI and California sheriff illegally seized marijuana cash belonging to licensed dispensaries, lawsuit claims
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/31/us/california-illegal-marijuana-seizure-lawsuit/index.html
AUSA CD California Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section
https://www.justice.gov/archives/usao-cdca/criminal-division/asset-forfeiture-section
LA Times Forfeiture Articles
LA Times (6-09-21) FBI wants to keep the fortune in cash, gold, jewels from Beverly Hills raid. Is it abuse of power?
https://www.latimes.com/
LA Times (4-08-21) After FBI seizure of safe deposit boxes in Beverly Hills, legal challenges mount
https://www.latimes.com/
LA Times (2-12-19) Ferrari seized by FBI and featured in TV show sells for $760,000 at U.S. Marshals auction
https://www.latimes.com/local/
ACLU Forfeiture Articles
ACLU (3-11-19) Court Blocks Unconstitutional Government Seizure of Mongols Motorcycle Club Trademark
https://www.aclu.org/news/
ACLU (1-15-19) Can the Trump Administration Use Asset Forfeiture Funds to Build the Border Wall?
https://www.aclu.org/news/
CATO Institute Forfeiture Articles
CATO Institute (6-17-15) Airport Pirates Find Bounty in a College Student’s Life Savings
https://www.cato.org/blog/
CATO Institute (6-23-15) An Illustrated Guide to Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.cato.org/blog/
CATO Institute (6-05-15) Maryland Governor, Civil Asset Forfeiture Is Inherently Abusive
https://www.cato.org/blog/
CATO Institute (3-06-15) Montana Reins in Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.cato.org/blog/
CATO Institute (9-29-92) American Forfeiture Law: Property Owners Meet the Prosecutor
https://www.cato.org/policy-
Forbes Forfeiture Articles
Forbes (8-23-11) Stealing Is Wrong, Even When It’s The Government Doing It
https://www.forbes.com/sites/
Forbes (4-19-14) Bank Deposits, Structuring, and Asset Forfeitures
https://www.forbes.com/sites/
Forbes (9-29-14) This Federal Program Lets Cops Seize Cash, Evade State Laws And Keep Over A Billion Dollars
https://www.google.com/amp/s/
Forbes (12-03-14) Civil Forfeiture: A Civil Rights Violation
https://www.forbes.com/sites/
Civil Forfeiture Now Requires A Criminal Conviction In Montana And New Mexico
https://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2015/07/02/civil-forfeiture-now-requires-a-criminal-conviction-in-montana-and-new-mexico/
Ohio Now Requires Criminal Convictions For Many Civil Forfeiture Cases
https://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2017/01/04/ohio-now-requires-criminal-convictions-for-many-civil-forfeiture-cases/
Supreme Court Could Stop The Federal Government From Not Paying Legal Fees
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicksibilla/2019/11/21/supreme-court-could-stop-the-federal-government-from-not-paying-legal-fees/
Civil Forfeiture Laws And The Continued Assault On Private Property
https://www.forbes.com/2011/06/08/property-civil-forfeiture.html
Real Deal Forfeiture Articles
Real Deal (6-08-22) Feds seize pill-pushing doc’s Brooklyn condo
https://therealdeal.com/2022/
Real Deal (10-13-21) Condo board looks to evict buyer of heavily discounted 1MDB penthouse
Latest legal dispute comes a year after U.S. Marshals sold the Walker Tower penthouse at a 64% discount
https://therealdeal.com/2021/
Real Deal (10-05-21) Forfeited profits: Why the feds chronically undersell seized property. Analysis shows DOJ flipped seized 1MDB assets for 41% less, on average, than fraudsters paid for them
https://therealdeal.com/2021/
Real Deal (3-01-18) Will the feds bungle billions? The DOJ has a spotty reputation for selling seized property — and is now facing its biggest test yet with two Manhattan trophy towers
https://therealdeal.com/
Washington Post Forfeiture Articles
Washington Post (12-10-21) Police seize property without charges and pocket the proceeds. There’s a bipartisan move to crack down. https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (9-01-21) A former Marine was pulled over for following a truck too closely. Police took nearly $87,000 of his cash. https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (8-31-19) Police Seized $10,000 of a Couple’s Cash. They Couldn’t Get it Back — until They Went Public
https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (7-25-17) Why Civil Asset Forfeiture Simply Won’t Die
https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (7-19-17) Jeff Sessions’s Defense of Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (3-29-17) Since 2007, the DEA has taken $3.2 billion in cash from people not charged with a crime https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (12-23-15) The Justice Department just shut down a huge asset forfeiture program https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (11-23-15) Law Enforcement Took More Stuff from People than Burglars Did Last Year
https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (11-15-15) in Tough Times, Police Start Seizing a Lot More Stuff from People https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (3-31-15) Holder announces new limits on civil asset forfeitures https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (3-22-15) A New Twist on Asset Forfeiture https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (3-15-15) How the IRS seized a man’s life savings without ever charging him with a crime https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (1-20-15) How Much Civil Asset Forfeiture Will Holder’s New Policy Actually Prevent?
https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (9-18-14) Government self-interest corrupted a crime-fighting tool into an evil https://www.washingtonpost.
Washington Post (9-04-14) Stopping the abuse of civil forfeiture
https://www.washingtonpost.
US News Forfeiture Articles
US News (6-13-17) It’s far too easy for the government to take its citizens’ property.
https://www.usnews.com/
US News (4-11-16) A Setback for Justice
https://www.usnews.com/
Wall Street Journal Forfeiture Articles
Wall Street Journal (8-22-11) Federal Asset Seizures Rise, Netting Innocent With Guilty
http://online.wsj.com/article/
Wall Street Journal (7-15-15) Asset-Forfeiture Laws Raise Concerns
http://www.wsj.com/articles/
Wall Street Journal (8-22-11) Federal Asset Seizures Rise, Netting Innocent With Guilty
http://online.wsj.com/article/
New York Times Forfeiture Articles
NY Times (2-20-19) Supreme Court Limits Police Powers to Seize Private Property
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/
NY Times (8-03-17) When Conspiracy and Forfeiture Law Intersect
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/
NY Times (10-25-14) Law Lets IRS Seize Accounts on Suspicion, No Crime Required
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/
NY Times (10-09-14) Police Use Department Wish List When Deciding Which Assets to Seize
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/
NY Times (12-26-10) U.S. Marshals Mishandled Forfeitures, Suit Says
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/
Reason Magazine Forfeiture Articles
(2-18-22) Cops Seized $8,000 From Her and Never Charged Her With a Crime https://reason.com/2022/04/07/
(2-18-22) The FBI Seized Almost $1 Million From This Family—and Never Charged Them With a Crime
https://reason.com/2022/02/18/
(10-01-22) Michigan Rolls Back Reforms of Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://reason.com/2022/09/22/
(12-08-21) Dallas Police Took $106,000 From a Traveler. They Haven’t Explained Why.
https://reason.com/2021/12/08/
(6-10-21) Indiana Supreme Court Finally Puts an End to the Timbs Asset Forfeiture Case — Reminiscent of Captain Ahab’s Chase of the White Whale Moby Dick
https://reason.com/volokh/
(4-19-21) The Government Seized This Innocent Man’s Car Without Due Process. SCOTUS Won’t Hear the Case.
https://reason.com/2021/04/19/
(4-19-21) Arizona Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Convictions for Asset Forfeiture
https://reason.com/2021/04/29/
(3-02-21) After the Cops Seized Her Car, the Government Waited Five Years Before Giving Her a Chance To Get It Back
https://reason.com/2021/03/02/
(2-19-21) Indiana Senate Passes Bill To Let Government Steal Stuff From People Suspected of Unlawful Assembly
https://reason.com/2021/02/19/
(2-06-21) The Seemingly Interminable Saga of the Timbs Asset Forfeiture Case Continues
https://reason.com/volokh/
(5-27-20) Indiana Returns Land Rover Seized 7 Years Ago in Landmark Asset Forfeiture Case
https://reason.com/2020/05/27/
(11-01-19) Indiana Supreme Court Applies Eighth Amendment to Curb Oppressive Asset Forfeitures
https://reason.com/volokh/
(2-20-19) How the Feds Are Using Civil Asset Forfeiture to Threaten Free Speech
https://reason.com/2019/02/20/
(2-20-19) Supreme Court Delivers Unanimous Victory for Asset Forfeiture Challenge
https://reason.com/2019/02/20/
(2-20-19) Supreme Court Rules that Excessive Fines Clause Applies to States and Constrains Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://reason.com/volokh/
(11-28-18) Indiana Solicitor General: It’s Constitutional to Seize a Car for Driving 5 MPH Over the Speed Limit
https://reason.com/2018/11/28/
(7-20-17) Clarence Thomas vs. Jeff Sessions on Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://reason.com/2017/07/20/
(6-08-15) California May Be Next to Pass Police Asset Forfeiture Reform
https://reason.com/2015/06/08/
(4-10-15) Great News: New Mexico’s Asset Forfeiture Reform Bill Signed by Governor
https://reason.com/2015/04/10/
(9-19-14) Asset Forfeiture Laws Evil and Unreformable, Say Former Justice Department Officials
https://reason.com/2014/09/19/
Justice Manual Forfeiture Information
Justice Manual § 9-116.000 – Equitable Sharing and Federal Adoption
https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-
Justice Manual § 9-115.000 – Use and Disposition of Seized and Forfeited Property
https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-
Justice Manual § 9-112.000 – Administrative and Judicial Forfeiture
https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-
Justice Manual § 9-120.000 – Attorney Fee Forfeiture Guidelines
https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-
Justice Manual § 9-121.000 – Remission, Mitigation, and Restoration of Forfeited Properties
https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-
Justice Manual § 9-117.000 – Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund
https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-
Justice Manual § 9-113.000 – Forfeiture Settlements
https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-
Justice Manual § 9-111.000 – Forfeiture/Seizure
https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-
Justice Manual § 9-119.000 – Asset Forfeiture Approval, Consultation, and Notification Requirements
https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-
Justice Manual – Assets Forfeiture Fund
https://www.justice.gov/afp/
Justice Department (3-18-15) Ban on Purchasing Certain Equipment with Equitable Sharing Funds.
Local law enforcement agencies are not allowed to use forfeiture funds to purchase grenade launchers, weaponized aircraft or bayonets, among other things.
https://www.justice.gov/sites/
Heritage Foundation Forfeiture Articles
Heritage Foundation (2-28-19) Alabama Shows How Law Enforcement Can Get Behind Asset Forfeiture Reform
https://www.heritage.org/
Heritage Foundation (2-16-18) Civil Asset Forfeiture Has Created Serious Problems
https://www.heritage.org/
Heritage Foundation (10-25-17) Scathing Report Reveals ICE Directive Encouraging Agents to Seize Property for Financial Gain
https://www.heritage.org/
Heritage Foundation (9-18-17) Congress Takes Positive Steps to Protect Property Owners From Asset Seizure
https://www.heritage.org/
Heritage Foundation (8-23-16) An Overview of Recent State-Level Forfeiture Reforms
https://www.heritage.org/
Heritage Foundation (7-30-15) A Comparison of Federal Civil and Criminal Forfeiture Procedures: Which Provides More Protections for Property Owners?
https://www.heritage.org/
Heritage Foundation (6-24-15) a Dysfunctional Civil-forfeiture System Seizes Savings, Destroys Lives
https://www.heritage.org/
Heritage Foundation (4-01-15) Both parties in New Mexico and elsewhere see bad problems in good-intentioned civil forfeiture laws
https://www.heritage.org/
CNBC Forfeiture Articles
CNBC (11-30-22) Feds Charge 21 People in Global Crypto Money Laundering Bust
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/
CNBC (10-03-22) Kim Kardashian Pays over $1 Million to Settle Sec Charges Linked to a Crypto Promo on Her Instagram
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/
CNBC (4-22-22) Sanctions Threaten to Cripple Russia’s Multibillion-dollar Crypto Industry
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/
CNBC (3-09-22) Here’s What Happens to Russian Oligarch Yachts after They’re Seized
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/
CNBC (1-12-22) Kim Kardashian and Floyd Mayweather sued by investors over alleged crypto scam
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/
CNBC (12-19-21) U.S. Government Has a Massive, Secret Stockpile of Bitcoin — Here’s What Happens to it
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/
CNBC (8-04-21) IRS Seized $1.2 Billion Worth of Cryptocurrency this Fiscal Year – Here’s What Happens to it
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/
CNBC (7-28-21) U.S. Marshals Service Hires Custodian to Hold Crypto Seized in Criminal Activity
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/
CNBC (7-27-21) Hobby Lobby’s $1.6 Million Gilgamesh Tablet Has Been Forfeited to the U.S.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/
CNBC (12-16-20) Feds Seize Millions in PPP Funds from International Ministry
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/
CNBC (11-05-20) Record $1 Billion Worth of Bitcoin Linked to the Silk Road Seized by U.S. Government
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/
CNBC (8-27-20) U.S. Seeks to Seize 280 Cryptocurrency Accounts Tied to North Korean Hacks
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/
CNBC (3-20-19) Trump Wants to Use a Big Banking Settlement to Help Build His Border Wall
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/
CNBC (2-20-19) Supreme Court Says States Can’t Impose Excessive Fines, and Delivers a Win to Former Heroin Addict in Pivotal Ruling
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/
CNBC (9-17-18) Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Investigation Could Turn a Profit for the Government, Thanks to Paul Manafort’s Asset Forfeiture
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/
CNBC (9-28-16) Behind-the-scenes Strife Led to CEO Stumpf Forfeiting $41 Million
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/
CNBC (2-19-16) IRS to Return Seized Cash to Small-business Owner
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/
CNBC (2-17-16) Small businesses still fighting for cash seized by IRS
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/
CNBC (5-22-15) Who’s Winning from Asset Seizures?
https://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/
CNBC (5-20-15) What Do Toyota and Madoff Have in Common?
https://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/
CNBC (5-19-15) Police Cash Confiscations Still on the Rise
https://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/
CNBC (4-17-15) Robert Durst to Cops: I Want the $161,000 You Seized
https://www.cnbc.com/2015/04/
CNBC (4-17-15) Feds Auction $13.5m Worth of Silk Road Bitcoins
https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/
CNBC (9-18-13) Feds to Seize NYC Skyscraper Tied to Iranian Terrorism
https://www.cnbc.com/2013/09/
AMMO Forfeiture Articles
Policing For Profit: How Civil Asset Forfeiture Has Perverted American Law Enforcement
https://ammo.com/articles/
Connecticut Gun & Ammo Laws: A 2nd Amendment Overview for Connecticut Gun Owners
https://ammo.com/gun-laws/
Reuters Forfeiture Articles
Reuters (4-27-23) Senators Urge Biden to Enable Agency to Seize Tankers of Iran Oil
https://www.reuters.com/
Reuters (2-24-23) U.S. Prosecutors Seize Properties, Charge Russian on Ukraine Invasion Anniversary
https://www.reuters.com/world/
Reuters (2-09-23) Sanctioned Oligarch Accuses U.S. of Stealing His Assets, Vows to Fight in Russian Court
https://www.reuters.com/world/
Reuters (2-02-23) Russian Oligarch Ordered to Forfeit $5.4 Mln to U.s., Ukraine May Get Funds
https://www.reuters.com/world/
Reuters (1-20-23) Feds seized nearly $700 million from FTX founder Bankman-Fried
https://www.reuters.com/
Reuters (11-30-22) U.S. Seeks $5.4 Mln from Russian Businessman Malofeyev’s Account
https://www.reuters.com/world/
Reuters (9-22-22) South Carolina Supreme Court Drops the Ball on Asset Forfeiture Reform
https://www.reuters.com/legal/
Reuters (7-19-22) U.S. Prosecutors Seek Broader Powers to Seize Russian Oligarchs’ Assets
https://www.reuters.com/legal/
Reuters (4-27-22) Cryptoassets Could Be Seized to Stop Crime, UK Government Says
https://www.reuters.com/world/
Reuters (2-08-22) Fortune or Forfeiture: Real Estate Lending in the Cannabis Space
https://www.reuters.com/legal/
Criminal Legal News Forfeiture Articles
(4-15-23) Houston Prosecutors Profit Millions From Cash Illegally Seized.
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(1-15-23) Charlotte Is Ground Zero for New FBI Asset Forfeiture Tip Line Program.
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(1-15-23) Theft of Public Funds or Accounting Incompetence? Kansas Police Agencies Can’t Accurately Track Property Forfeitures, Jan. 15, 2023. Forfeiture, Federal Funds.
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(12-15-22) Sixth Circuit Announces Criminal Forfeiture Under Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(b) Is Mandatory Claims-Processing Rule, Reverses $62.5 Million Money Judgments, Dec. 15, 2022. Forfeiture, Sentence and Judgement.
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(3-15-22) Maine Now Requires Criminal Conviction Before Property May Be Forfeited.
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(3-15-22) Filmmaker Got Back His $69,000 ‘Stolen’ by DEA Agent, Plus a $15,000 Settlement
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(3-02-22) Sentence First; Verdict Afterwards: Civil Asset Forfeiture Ruins Lives on Basis of Allegations
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(3-01-22) Digital Tyranny: Beware of the Government’s Push for a Digital Currency
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(4-14-22) Civil Asset Forfeiture Still Abused by Florida Law Enforcement
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(2-26-22) Armored Car Company Victim of Multiple ‘Highway Robberies’ by Cops Files Federal Lawsuit for Recovery of Seized Cash
https://www.criminallegalnews.org/news/2019/dec/18/asset-forfeiture-not-so-helpful-crime-fighting/
(2-15-22) Massachusetts Remains a Civil Forfeiture Outlier
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(2-15-22) DEA Continues to Seize Money Without Proof of Criminality
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(12-29-21) Highway Robbers Return Money Taken from Ex-Marine The Catch? They Were Cops
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(12-24-21) Boston Cops Fleece Citizens to Secretly Buy Controversial Spy Tech
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(12-13-21) Dallas K-9 Instrumental in Civil Forfeiture of $106,000 at Love Field Airport Despite There Being no Arrest or Crime
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(3-27-21) Massachusetts Worst in Nation for Civil Forfeiture Laws
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(1-15-21) Police Say Seizing Property Without Trial Helps Keep Crime Down. A New Study Shows They’re Wrong.
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(12-15-20) Retiree’s Home Taken for $8.41 Tax Bill Draws Michigan Supreme Court Ire
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(3-18-20) New Jersey Tightens Reins on Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(12-18-19) Asset Forfeiture Not So Helpful to Crime-Fighting
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(8-21-19) California Losing Millions in Civil Asset Forfeiture Funds as Law Aims to Curb Police Abuse
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(6-21-19) Police, Prosecutors Use Asset Forfeitures to Lease SUVs, Customize Motorcycles, Install WiFi at Home, and More
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(6-17-19) Policing for Profit: Justice Reformers Chip Away at Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(4-12-19) Cops Seize Almost $150,000 from Black Musician for Not Using His Turn Signal
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(3-15-19) In Landmark Civil Asset Forfeiture Case, U.S. Supreme Court Holds Excessive Fines Clause of Eighth Amendment Applicable to States
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(8-31-18) $3 Million Federal Court Settlement: Philadelphia Agrees to End Civil Forfeiture
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(9-23-18) Federal Judge Effectively Ends Albuquerque’s Civil Asset Forfeiture Program as Too Focused on Revenue and Not on Due Process
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(9-23-18) Civil Forfeiture Often Focuses on Profit Instead of Public Safety
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(4-19-18) Asset Forfeitures Fund New York DA’s Office Bonuses
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(3-01-18) Forfeiture Funds Fancy Food for Officials
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(2-22-18) Oregon Seizes $121,000 of Deceased Veteran’s Benefits
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(2-22-18) Report: Asset Forfeiture Distorts Police Priorities
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(2-16-18) Civil Asset Forfeiture: Unfair, Unjust, Un-American
https://www.criminallegalnews.
(2-16-18) Ninth Circuit: Government Cannot Seize Cash Based Solely on Money’s Intended Use
https://www.criminallegalnews.
Comp. Enter. Inst. Forfeiture Articles
Comp. Enter. Inst. (5-08-23) Avoid Seizures of Cash by Taking Prudent Measures
https://cei.org/citations/
Comp. Enter. Inst. (5-03-23) Taking People’s Stuff: Civil Forfeiture Is Widespread, Unjust, and Resists Reform
https://cei.org/blog/taking-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (5-03-23) Civil Forfeiture Policy Unjustly Deprives People of Property
https://cei.org/news_releases/
Comp. Enter. Inst. (3-20-23) Legislation Introduced to Curb Federal Forfeiture
https://cei.org/blog/
Comp. Enter. Inst. (11-27-22) How Civil Forfeiture Makes It Harder for Cops to Do Their Jobs
https://cei.org/opeds_
Comp. Enter. Inst. (11-10-22) Why Cops Should Be Chasing the Bad Guys, Not the Big Bucks
https://cei.org/blog/why-cops-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (1-21-22) This Week’s Civil Forfeiture Outrage (Tenth in a Series: Baltimore Edition)
https://cei.org/blog/this-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (9-26-22) Government May Not Avoid Just Compensation in Debt Seizures
https://cei.org/blog/
Comp. Enter. Inst. (7-22-22) Tennessee Corruption Case Raises Questions about Forfeiture and Police Office Culture
https://cei.org/blog/
Comp. Enter. Inst. (6-08-22) They’re Taking My Stuff!” – Now on Video!
https://cei.org/blog/theyre-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (5-12-22) This Week’s Civil Forfeiture Outrages: Do People Facing Forfeiture Get Due Process?
https://cei.org/blog/this-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (4-20-22) Report: Government Seizes Billions in Private Property, but Citizens Have Little Recourse
https://cei.org/news_releases/
Comp. Enter. Inst. (4-20-22) Countering Civil Forfeiture Myths with Facts
https://cei.org/blog/
Comp. Enter. Inst. (4-20-22) Five Myths of Civil Forfeiture
https://cei.org/studies/five-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (2-25-22) This Week’s Civil Forfeiture Outrage (Twelfth in a Series: Love Field Update)
https://cei.org/blog/this-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (2-11-22) This Week’s Civil Forfeiture Outrage (Eleventh in a Series: Highway Robbery in California)
https://cei.org/blog/this-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (2-09-22) New Hampshire Considers Major Forfeiture Reform
https://cei.org/blog/new-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (1-28-22) This Week’s Outrage (Which, Again, Touches on Civil Asset Forfeiture)
https://cei.org/blog/this-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (1-14-22) This Week’s Civil Forfeiture Outrages (Ninth in a Series: Texas Edition)
https://cei.org/blog/this-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (1-07-22) This Week’s Civil Forfeiture Outrage (Eighth in a Series)
https://cei.org/blog/this-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (11-12-21) This Week’s Civil Forfeiture Outrage (Fourth in a Series)
https://cei.org/blog/this-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (11-04-21) The Fruits of Forfeiture in Little Compton
https://cei.org/blog/the-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (10-28-21) This Week in Civil Forfeiture Outrages
https://cei.org/blog/this-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (10-22-21) Climate Change Alarmism: This Week’s Civil Forfeiture Outrages, Part 3
https://cei.org/blog/climate-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (10-04-21) How Civil Forfeiture Can Enable Public Officials’ Misuse of Funds
https://cei.org/blog/how-
Comp. Enter. Inst. (9-28-21) People Have Few Protections Against Law Enforcement Civil Asset Forfeiture Practices
https://cei.org/opeds_
Comp. Enter. Inst. (9-16-21) They’re Taking My Stuff! What You Need to Know about Seizure and Forfeiture
https://cei.org/studies/
Comp. Enter. Inst. (5-07-21) Arizona Adopts Landmark Civil Forfeiture Reform Legislation
https://cei.org/blog/arizona-
Miscellaneous Newspapers Forfeiture Articles
Business Insider (4-16-15) Guy Describes the Living Nightmare of the US Government Trying to Seize His Family’s Motel
https://www.businessinsider.
Business Insider (4-16-15) Testimony at US Senate over Living Nightmare of the US Government Trying to Seize His Family’s Motel
https://www.businessinsider.
Business Insider (4-16-15) Former Motel Owner Testifies at Nations Capital of the Pitfalls of the Forfeiture
https://www.lowellsun.com/ci_
Daily Signal (5-07-15) After Having His Motel Seized by the Government, Victim of Civil Asset Forfeiture Reflects on His Fight
https://www.dailysignal.com/
Greenville News (4-22-23) From Pirates to Kingpins, the Strange Legal History of Civil Forfeiture
https://www.greenvilleonline.
US Attorney’s Office (1-03-23) Middle District Of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects More Than $168 Million In Civil And Criminal Actions In Fiscal Year 2022
https://www.justice.gov/usao-
Times Union (1-11-23) Albany District Attorney, Sheriff under Federal Review for Use of Funds
https://www.timesunion.com/
Crime Report (1-10-23) New Mexico Ends Civil Asset Forfeiture and it Didn’t Increase Crime
https://thecrimereport.org/
Crime Report (1-10-23) Fake Reform Won’t Fix Police Addiction To Forfeiture Cash
https://thecrimereport.org/
Mariana Variety (1-09-23) Warrant of Arrest Issued Against Seized Funds from Bank of Saipan
https://www.mvariety.com/news/
Crime Report (10-26-22) Feds Expand Forfeiture of Cryptocurrency
https://thecrimereport.org/
Federalist News Network (6-27-22) How Do You Protect Your Assets from Seizures and Forfeitures?
https://federalnewsnetwork.
Mackinac Center (3-25-22) Michigan Must Close Asset Forfeiture Loophole. Abuse in Highland Park Illustrates Need for Reform
https://www.mackinac.org/blog/
CBS (12-15-21) Dallas Police Seized $100K In Cash From Love Field Traveler Using Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/
WBUR (12-17-21) Boston Police Bought Spy Tech with a Pot of Money Hidden from the Public
https://www.wbur.org/news/
FEE Stories (12-11-21) AOC Discovers the Horrors of Civil Asset Forfeiture, Rails Against the Practice in Congressional Hearing. America’s civil asset forfeiture system is unfair, un-American, and ripe for reform—and people are finally beginning to notice.
https://fee.org/articles/aoc-
Verify (12-08-21) Yes, Police in Most States Can Seize Your Money Even If You’re Not Charged with a Crime
https://www.verifythis.com/
AZ Central (11-10-21) In Appeals Court Hearing, Judges Criticize Case of Phoenix Police Seizing Man’s $39,500
https://www.azcentral.com/
Center Square Louisiana (10-20-21) State Seizure of Private Property – How Civil Asset Forfeiture Has Run Amok in Louisiana
https://www.thecentersquare.
Cleveland News (10-07-21) Government Seeks Property Forfeiture in Vape Case
https://www.
Queen City News (8-28-21) SC Troopers under Investigation Following $110K Seizure
https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-
Stateline (8-18-21) Federal Loophole Thwarts State Curbs on Police Seizures of Property
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/
Las Vegas Journal (9-08-21) Civil asset forfeiture horror story shows need for reform
https://www.reviewjournal.com/
Cruypto (8-05-21) US Government is Seizing so Many Cryptos, It’s Enrolling Private Contractors
https://www.gobankingrates.
USA Today (7-20-21) Why are innocent people still losing cash, cars and even homes to police?
https://www.usatoday.com/
Crime Report (7-16-21) How Civil Asset Forfeiture Turns Authorities into Bounty Hunters
https://thecrimereport.org/
Charlotte NPT (6-15-21) Mooresville Police Face Legal Fight Over Cash Seized From Suspects
https://www.wfae.org/crime-
Governing (4-01-21) The Continuing Perversity of Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.governing.com/now/
USA Today (3-10-21) Civil asset forfeiture: I’m a grandmother, not a drug lord. Why can police take my property?
https://www.usatoday.com/
AZMirror (3-06-21) Arizona Governor Signs Bill Requiring Conviction Before Assets Are Seized
https://www.azmirror.com/2021/
Goldwater Institute (3-02-21) Fighting Back against Government Theft
https://www.
Politico (2-26-21) Trump Pardon Unwinds Some Manafort Forfeitures
Justice Department drops efforts to seize 3 properties of former Trump campaign manager at center of Mueller probe.
https://www.politico.com/news/
Center Square (2-11-21) Weak Reforms Allow Arkansas Police to Patrol for Cash
https://www.thecentersquare.
ProPublica (12-14-20) Police Say Seizing Property Without Trial Helps Keep Crime Down. A New Study Shows They’re Wrong.
https://www.propublica.org/
Federalist News Network (9-03-20) A Look into DHS Asset Forfeiture Procedures
https://federalnewsnetwork.
Greenville News (4-22-20) 5 States That Reformed Civil Forfeiture Laws – and One That Didn’t
https://www.greenvilleonline.
Crime Report (3-31-20) Michigan Prosecutor Quits Over Forfeiture Fund Charges
https://thecrimereport.org/
Mackinac Center (1-06-20) Forfeiture Cases Can Take Years, Even for the Innocent; Supreme Court May Help
https://www.mackinac.org/
Advocates (1-01-20) Missouri Police Exploited Asset Forfeiture Loophole to Confiscate Millions of Dollars
https://www.theadvocates.org/
St. Louis Public Radio (12-30-19) How A Quiet Police Lobbying Campaign Killed Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform In Missouri
https://news.stlpublicradio.
Greenville News (10-15-19) Civil Asset Forfeiture in South Carolina Is Unconstitutional, Circuit Court Judge Rules
https://www.greenvilleonline.
Liberty Conservative (8-08-19) Michigan Bans The Cops From Seizing Your Property Without Conviction
https://
Neartland (7-31-19) Michigan Enacts Civil Asset Forfeiture Reforms
https://heartland.org/opinion/
Liberty Conservative (7-08-19) Alabama Passes Asset Forfeiture Accountability Bill
https://
Marketplace (5-01-19) Reasonable Limits on Asset Forfeiture Past-Due
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/
Mercury News (4-21-19) Police Agencies Forfeit Millions after New Law Chokes off Funds from Asset Seizures
https://www.mercurynews.com/
SPLC (4-16-19) What the Supreme Court Ruling Could Mean for Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.splcenter.org/
Marketplace (4-16-19) Civil forfeiture: Fighting socialism in Mississippi and throughout the Deep South
https://www.clarionledger.com/
FEE stories (3-09-19) How a Young Joe Biden Became the Architect of the Government’s Asset Forfeiture Program
https://fee.org/articles/how-
JDSUpra (3-06-19) Asset Forfeiture; a Commentary on the Legal Marijuana Industry’s Achilles Heel
https://www.jdsupra.com/
Pulitzer Center (2-25-19) For Phelps County: Seizing Suspects’ Assets Is Like Pennies From Heaven
https://pulitzercenter.org/
BuzzFeed News (2-20-19) The Supreme Court Has Limited How Much Private Property States Can Seize
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/
Advocates (2-01-19) North Dakota Takes A Bite Out Of Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.theadvocates.org/
Advoctates (1-01-19) FBI Uses Cute Propaganda Campaign to Justify Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.theadvocates.org/
IndyStar (11-30-18) An Indiana man was caught with $260 of heroin. The state took his $42,000 Land Rover.
https://www.indystar.com/
SEC (11-29-18) Two Celebrities Charged With Unlawfully Touting Coin Offerings
https://www.sec.gov/news/
Crime Report (10-30-18) Small Heroin Sale Tees Up High Court Test of Forfeiture Laws
https://thecrimereport.org/
CAPCON (8-22-18) Home, Assets Tied Up For Years As Family Awaits Forfeiture Process
https://www.
Heartland Institute (6-11-18) Wisconsin Enacts Sweeping Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
https://heartland.org/opinion/
JDSUPRA (3-26-18) Civil Forfeiture: Can the Government Really Seize and Take Ownership of My Company’s Assets?
https://www.jdsupra.com/
The Hill (3-07-18) Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Is Sweeping the Nation
https://thehill.com/opinion/
Texas Tribune (3-04-18) The Government Took $41,000 from this Texan at a Houston Airport Six Months Ago. They Never Gave it Back.
https://www.texastribune.org/
Yellow Hammer (2-01-18) Civil Asset Forfeiture: We All Probably Deserve Some Blame for the Disgraceful Practice
https://yellowhammernews.com/
Mackinac Center (12-20-17) Michigan Man Cleared of Wrongdoing, Still Fighting Civil Forfeiture Years Later
https://www.mackinac.org/
Capcon (11-24-17) No Arrest — But Cops Took And Kept His $2,035 Anyway
https://www.
Daily Maverick (10-24-17) Civil Asset Forfeiture Is a Dangerous Tool
https://www.dailymaverick.co.
Crime Report (10-18-17) Sessions Creates DOJ Asset Forfeiture Watchdog
https://thecrimereport.org/
Salon Independent (9-25-17) Yes, the Government Can Steal Your Stuff. Authorities don’t need a conviction or even for a suspect to be charged before seizing a car, cash or a house
https://www.salon.com/2017/09/
The Conversation (9-17-17) How the government can steal your stuff: 6 questions about civil asset forfeiture answered
https://theconversation.com/
Bloomberg (8-07-17) Civil Forfeiture Came from a Strange Place. Jeff Sessions Wants to Resurrect the Medieval Concept of Finding Guilt in Inanimate Objects.
https://www.bloomberg.com/
Prison Legal News (7-28-17) Policing for Profit: Law Enforcement Agencies Abuse Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.prisonlegalnews.
The Street (7-24-17) Trump Just Resurrected the Ugly Practice Known as Civil Forfeiture for No Reason
https://www.thestreet.com/
National Review (7-20-17) On Civil Asset Forfeiture, Jeff Sessions Is the New Kamala Harris
https://www.nationalreview.
National Review (7-20-17) America’s Asset-Forfeiture Scam Is Law Enforcement’s Disgrace
https://www.nationalreview.
National Review (6-25-17) Civil Asset Forfeiture: Where Due Process Goes to Die
https://www.nationalreview.
Illinois News Bureau (4-13-17) Are Law Enforcement Agencies Abusing Civil Asset Forfeiture?
https://news.illinois.edu/
National Review (3-10-17) Justice Thomas Defends Victims of Policing for Profit
https://www.nationalreview.
TribTalk (2-17-17) Distracted Media Missed the Asset Forfeiture Issue
https://www.tribtalk.org/2017/
Orange County Register (1-05-17) Good and Bad news on Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://www.ocregister.com/
VOX (9-30-16) These States Let Police Take and Keep Your Stuff Even If You Haven’t Committed a Crime
https://www.vox.com/2015/7/8/
Federalist News Network (9-28-16) Senate Bill Aims to Rein in IRS on Asset Forfeitures
https://federalnewsnetwork.
CAPCON (9-13-16) Police Seize Car, Drive 56,000 Miles, Sell It Without Charging Owners With a Crime. Michigan forfeiture laws allow assets to be turned over without a conviction
https://www.
US News (8-24-16) Presumed Guilty. Civil asset forfeiture creates perverse incentives that can cost you your property.
https://www.usnews.com/
Marketplace (4-06-16) Controversial Civil Forfeiture Program Back in Action
https://www.marketplace.org/
VOX (3-28-16) How Police Can Take Your Stuff, Sell It, and Pay for Armored Cars with the Money
https://www.vox.com/2014/10/
VOX (3-28-16) The Feds Are Helping Local Police Make Money by Taking Your Stuff Again
https://www.vox.com/2015/12/
Marketplace (3-20-16) Private Property at Risk in South Dakota
http://www.argusleader.com/
Florida Politics (11-23-15) State Report on Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws in Florida Suggests Reforms Are Needed
https://floridapolitics.com/
VOX (11-10-15) Police Keep Taking More and More Stuff from People Without Charging Them for Crimes
https://www.vox.com/policy-
Daily Signal (7-30-15) How States Are Using the Courts to Fight Police Taking People’s Money and Property
https://www.dailysignal.com/
Freedom Works (6-08-15) Civil Asset Forfeiture: Grading the States
https://www.freedomworks.org/
FreedomWorks (6-03-15) Legislation on the move in California to protect innocent property owners from abuse of civil asset forfeiture
https://www.freedomworks.org/
The Atlantic (3-12-15) The Injustice of Civil-Asset Forfeiture. The latest victim: a 22-year-old who set off to start a new life with $16,000 to his name, only to have it all seized by the DEA.
https://www.theatlantic.com/
Detroit Free Press (2-22-15) Police Seize Property and Cash in Questionable Raids
https://www.freep.com/story/
CNN (1-30-15) Rand Paul: How Feds Can Legally Steal Your Money
https://www.cnn.com/2015/01/
CAPCON (12-03-14) Property Seized, Money Taken – But No Crime. How police confiscate property and freeze bank accounts without ever making an arrest
https://www.
C-Span (11-15-14) Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws
Tim Lynch with the CATO Institute talked about civil asset forfeiture laws, the history of reform efforts, and a renewed focus on police abuse of the laws in order to seize assets.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?
Federalist News Network (8-13-14) Dirty Money: How Asset Forfeiture Is Returning Billions to the Federal Coffers
https://federalnewsnetwork.
New Yorker (8-05-13) Taken. Under civil forfeiture, Americans who haven’t been charged with wrongdoing can be stripped of their cash, cars, and even homes. Is that all we’re losing?
https://www.newyorker.com/
Vanguard (10-25-10) Asset Forfeitures: The Free Market and Property Rights
https://www.vanguardngr.com/
