Have the cops of the feds seized your money or other property? This is common when law enforcement finds cash or other valuables while searching incident to an arrest. They may also find your banking information while searching and seize your accounts. The police may even seize your money or other property without making an arrest! Citizens have had their mail, FedEx, and UPS packages containing currency seized for forfeiture. If your money, bank account, or other property is seized, with or without an arrest, you will face strict time limits and legal procedures to get your money or other property returned.
Civil Asset Forfeiture is an odd-duck in the law. It is considered “quasi-criminal,” and most lawyers have little or no experience in fighting Civil Asset Forfeiture cases. When related to a criminal case, the criminal defense lawyer often “trades” the seized money or other property for a better result in the criminal case. A person, especially a defendant in a related criminal case, should be careful about giving up the seized property. An Asset Forfeiture Attorney experienced in these matters can often obtain the return of the seized property or at least work out a better resolution than just giving it up.
Fortunately, the government is held to an extremely strict standard and must comply with all elements of the statute. The simple act of the arresting officer filling out the forfeiture notice and handing it to the defendant may be enough to have the entire forfeiture case dismissed. If your money or other property is seized for forfeiture, you will need an attorney with hands-on experience in Civil Asset Forfeiture matters.
Bill Panzer has extensive experience in Civil Asset Forfeiture at both the state and federal levels. He has obtained the return of hundreds of thousands of dollars, cars, and other property. Bill has taken Asset Forfeiture cases to full litigation and has even won a fee award against the U.S. Government under the “Equal Access to Justice Act.” Bill is a past director of California F.E.A.R. (Forfeiture Endangers American Rights) and successfully represented Jack Johnson in a federal forfeiture case, U.S. v. $12,248 in U.S. Currency, that was among those featured in a cover expose of forfeiture laws in USA Today!
