seizure

Published on: December 13, 2018

Texas Police Netted $50 million in Asset Forfeitures in 2017

In 2017, law enforcement across Texas seized more than $50 million in property, cash, and other assets from private citizens. They were able to do so by claiming these assets were linked to crime. While some of these seizures were taken using criminal forfeiture—that is, as part of cases where an individual was found guilty of a crime—others were taken using civil forfeiture. No criminal charges are required for civil asset forfeiture.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office makes no distinction in its records between civil and criminal forfeiture, so it is unknown how much property was taken from individuals not charged with a crime. Attempts by state legislators to force law enforcement to improve their reporting have repeatedly failed.
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Published on: June 12, 2018

Border Patrol Seizes $58,000 from Cleveland Man, Refuses to Relinquish It

by Brian Silber

In 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol seized $58,000 from an Ohio man. They have not returned the money, nor have they charged him with a crime.

Rustem Kazazi and his family are originally from Albania in southern Europe, where Rustem worked as a police officer. In 2005, the Kazazis moved to the U.S. when they were awarded visas through the State Department lottery program. They settled in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2010, the family became naturalized U.S. citizens.
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Published on: April 11, 2018

Tennessee Legislature Passes Civil Asset Forfeiture Reforms

by Brian Silber

A bill giving new protections for people involved in civil asset forfeiture has now passed both houses of the Tennessee legislature. If Governor Haslam signs it into law, it may become easier for people to regain property seized by law enforcement.

The bill passed the State Senate with unanimous support and was supported by both civil rights and libertarian groups. “This is a rare bill because you had the ACLU on one side and the Beacon Center on the other, and they both agreed on it,” said Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga), who cosponsored the bill. Continue reading

Published on: November 29, 2017

$300 Million in Drugs Seized, Dropped Off in Port Everglades

by Brian Silber

As part of a series of patrols fighting transnational organized crime operations around Mexico and South America, the US Coast Guard seized cocaine and heroin worth over $300 million. The drugs were collected by multiple Coast Guard cutters patrolling the waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The drugs were offloaded on Tuesday, November 14th as the US Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returned from its three-month voyage to the Pacific.

Published on: November 27, 2017

Jaime Fernandez Del Pino, Julio Arojona Gomez, 8 Others Arrested for Fraud; Justice Department Seizes Cash, Cars, Jewelry

by Brian Silber

Miami-Dade Circuit Court is charging 13 Florida residents with fraud-related charges after law enforcement agents bust a fake credit card factory in Hialeah that federal prosecutors believe is the foundation of a nationwide scam.

Jaime Fernandez Del Pino of Miami reportedly ran the factory together with Julio Arjona Gomez of Miami Gardens. Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud. An accomplice identified as Dayan Borges of Doral faces similar charges.