Variety

Published on: January 25, 2021

South Carolina Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Constitutionality of State’s Civil Forfeiture Statutes

The South Carolina Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week on whether the state’s civil forfeiture laws violated citizens’ constitutional rights.

Last year, the Court of Common Pleas for the 15th Judicial Circuit evaluated South Carolina’s civil forfeiture statutes and ruled that they are unconstitutional because they violate citizens’ rights to due process and freedom from excessive fines. That ruling was appealed by prosecutors to the South Carolina Supreme Court, and the appeals hearing was scheduled for January 13, 2021.

Published on: January 22, 2021

Middle District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Almost $20 Million in Asset Forfeiture Actions in 2020

by Brian Silber

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced that it collected almost $20 million in asset forfeiture actions during the 2020 fiscal year.

According to the Justice Department press release, the district’s Asset Recovery and Victims’ Rights Division recovered $19,233,234 in forfeited assets last year.

Published on: January 21, 2021

Ramapo Police Seek Owner of Dirt Bike Seized During Traffic Stop

by Brian Silber

Police in Rockland County, NY, are trying to locate the owner of a dirt bike that was abandoned by a teenager when he allegedly fled from police.

Ramapo police said the dirt bike was seized on December 16, 2020, when a 16-year-old was stopped by officers for driving an unregistered vehicle. For reasons that are unclear, the teenager reportedly abandoned the bike and fled into the nearby woods. They were captured by police shortly afterwards, sources indicate.

Published on: January 19, 2021

Feds Seek Civil Forfeiture of $200,000 Seized in Southern Oregon Traffic Stop

by Brian Silber

Federal prosecutors are reportedly seeking to seize more than $200,000 found inside a minivan during a traffic stop in Oregon, even though the owner of the cash has not been charged.

According to an affidavit filed last month in the U.S. District Court in Medford, Oregon State Police found $200,470 in cash during a traffic stop conducted on July 29, 2020, in the westbound lanes of Highway 140 near Bly.

Published on: January 18, 2021

U.S. Real Estate Firms Settle Civil Forfeiture Claims Filed Against $50 Million in Alleged Drug Money

by Brian Silber

Three U.S.-based real estate firms have agreed to turn over more than $50 million to the federal government to resolve allegations claiming they accepted narcotics proceeds through an underground exchange market.

According to the Department of Justice news release, Sefira Capital and more than 30 of its subsidiaries allegedly accepted millions of dollars in drug money laundered through the Black Market Peso Exchange, which it then reinvested in various real estate ventures.