American Brazenly Robbed of $58,100 Life Savings by Federal Agents at Cleveland Airport
Rustem Kazazi was victimized by desperadoes from a gang called "Customs and Border Patrol," but thanks to the Institute for Justice he's fighting back.
Civil Asset Forfeiture
Customs Agents Steal Money a Nurse Saved to Build a Medical Clinic in Nigeria
CBP won't return the cash unless the owner signs an illegal waiver.
Texas Town in Trouble for Spending Money Seized from Citizens on Trips, Non-Police Business
Despite the misuse, nobody involved questions that corrupt mentality that led to asset forfeiture in the first place.
Chicago Is Trying to Pay Down Its Debt by Impounding Innocent People's Cars
How a uniquely punitive city impound program combined with the drug war and asset forfeiture to deprive people of their vehicles for years at a time.
Three Years After New Mexico Banned Civil Forfeiture, Albuquerque Finally Ends It
Albuquerque tried to ignore strict new state reforms and keep seizing cars, but then it messed with the wrong person.
Troubled by Highway Seizures, Kansas Enacts Asset Forfeiture Transparency
Kansas police spend millions in asset forfeiture revenue under vague, lax laws. Now they'll have to open their books.
What Forfeiture Reforms? New Hampshire Police Bypass State Law, Keep Taking People's Stuff
The Department of Justice's loophole lets officials seize property without having to get a conviction.
Alabama Prosecutor, Sheriff Threaten to Put More People in Prison in Order to Keep Seizing Massive Amounts of Property
Lawmakers are considering long-overdue civil asset forfeiture reform, and law enforcement leaders aren't happy.
Three Years Ago, D.C. Passed Strong Transparency Laws For Asset Forfeiture. Nothing Happened.
"Without this information, we're all left in the dark."
Baltimore Cops on Trial for a Criminal Conspiracy That Looks a Lot Like Everyday Policing
Armed robbery, extortion...and keeping the money for themselves.
Alabama Raked in $2.2 Million in Civil Asset Forfeiture in 2015
A new bill introduced by state lawmakers would require a criminal conviction for the government to keep someone's property.
The Feds Are Just 'Safeguarding' Money Seized Through Asset Forfeiture and Civil Fines
U.S. prosecutors in Northern Georgia alone helped collect millions in asset forfeiture actions, civil and criminal fines last year.
Bill Introduced to Stop Civil Forfeiture Funding of DEA Marijuana Eradication Program
"DEA's use of proceeds acquired through civil asset forfeiture to expand marijuana enforcement makes the already unacceptable practice even worse."
U.S. Marshals Will Auction $52 Million of Bitcoin Seized Through Asset Forfeiture
More than 3,800 Bitcoin will be auctioned on January 22, including those taken from vendors on cryptomarkets like SilkRoad and AlphaBay.
New D.A. Larry Krasner Cleans House in Philadelphia
In his first days in office, the activist turned prosecutor has dismissed 31 career staff.
Darrell Issa Retiring from Seat He Barely Won Last Time
The congressman leaves with a mixed record.
New York Gov. Cuomo Proposes Positive Criminal Justice Reforms
Less pretrial jail, more forfeiture restrictions
Small Alabama Town Hired Cops, Judge, Prosecutor, Set Up Speed/Asset Forfeiture Trap
Motorists have found alternate routes, and now the townspeople may lose their police force.
No, Trump is Not Making Separation of Powers Great Again
He's more than happy to engage in power grabs when it helps his agenda.
Georgia Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Require Conviction for Asset Forfeiture
Georgia passed some asset forfeiture reforms in 2015. Can it join 14 other states that require a conviction before police can keep people's stuff?
Musician Wins Return of $91,800 He Supposedly Gave Wyoming Cops
The quick resolution of Phil Parhamovich's case shows once again that standing up to money-grabbing bullies can pay off.
Cops Steal $91,800 From a Musician, Claiming He Gave It to Them
Wyoming's roadside waivers are a thin disguise for highway robbery.
The U.S. Government Wants to Seize 'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli's Wu-Tang Clan Album
And it might be coming to a U.S. Marshals auction listing near you.
New York Prosecutors Gave Themselves $3.2 Million in Bonuses With Asset Forfeiture Funds
One Suffolk County prosecutor, facing criminal charges for covering up the beating of a suspect, received $70,000 in bonuses.
This Awful SCOTUS Decision Helped Create Today's Civil Asset Forfeiture Racket
Bennis v. Michigan should be overruled.
Cop Who Called Asset Forfeiture 'A Tax-Liberating Goldmine' Sued for Illegal Traffic Stop and Seizure
And he's running for sheriff of an Illinois county.
Denver Cashes in by Seizing Cars for Low-Level Crimes, Even Without Convictions
The city earns more than $2 million a year grabbing more than 1,800 vehicles.
Justice Department Bizarrely Uses Madoff to Defend Taking People's Stuff Without Convicting Them First
Twisted incentives? What are those? Rod Rosenstein doesn't seem to have heard of them.
Senators Push To Defund Jeff Sessions' Civil Asset Forfeiture Expansion
The House passed amendments this fall blocking Jeff Sessions' asset forfeiture directive. Now senators want to make it stick.
Trump Judicial Nominees Oppose the Trump Administration on Civil Asset Forfeiture and Birthright Citizenship
In the 5th Circuit, it's shaping up to be Trump vs. Trump's judicial picks.
After Stalling for Two Years, CBP Returns Truck It Stole at the Border
Gerardo Serrano still has not been compensated for the expenses imposed by the seizure.
Alabama Police Use Asset Forfeiture to Ruin an Innocent Small Business Owner
"The police just fucked my life."
NYPD Says It Has No Backup of Its Asset Forfeiture Database and No Way to Retrieve It
The database cost $25 million.
The IRS Stole $59,000 From an Innocent Veteran; Years Later, They Still Won't Return It
"They did it for money, and they destroyed a good and honest man."
Michigan Mayor Offers Seized Money as a Citizen Reward for Drug Snitching. What Could Go Wrong?
Incentives for neighbors to turn on each other. Incentives for police to find reasons to seize people's stuff and keep it.
The Secret Slush Funds of Asset Forfeiture
Two investigations published this week reveal how police and prosecutors spend asset forfeiture funds outside the public eye.
Justin Amash and Rand Paul Talk Congressional Pushback on SiriusXM Insight from 2-4 p.m. ET
Matt Welch interviews the libertarian-leaning legislators, as well as Emily Yoffe and Eli Lake, on Channel 121
2 Years After CBP Took His Truck Because of a Few Forgotten Bullets, Still No Hearing
A new lawsuit argues that owners of vehicles seized at the border have a constitutional right to prompt hearings.
House Approves Amendments to Block Sessions' Asset Forfeiture Directive
In a rebuke to Jeff Sessions, the House of Representatives approved several bipartisan amendments to block his asset forfeiture directive.
Forget the Violent Campus Protests—This College Cop Is Gunning for Unlicensed Hot Dog Vendors
Watch a Berkeley officer seize the cash out of the wallet of a street merchant.
Tennessee Spent $100K in Asset Forfeiture Funds on Catering
Justice Department watchdog to cops: Your banquets don't count as "police activity."
Forfeiture Loot Corrupts Justice
When law enforcement agencies make money by seizing property, due process vanishes.
Indianapolis Cops Violated the Constitution by Holding Cars for Six Months Without Filing Forfeiture Paperwork
Violations of the Fourth and 15th Amendment, judge says
