Criminal Forfeitures
You could lose your house, car, money or other property if someone is arrested for selling drugs from your home. State and federal laws are becoming increasingly severe as more crimes now invoke forfeiture statutes. When the government believes that you or someone else used your property to support criminal activity, forfeiture statutes enable government seizure of your property. This is not limited to simply drug paraphernalia or weapons, but may include one’s house, car, bank account, cash, computer, and more.
Property forfeiture may arise in a number of situations, including:
- A drug related arrest executed while the defendant was driving, particularly if the drugs were or were suspected of being in the car;
- A car or other property was used for illegal purposes with or without the owner’s knowledge;
- The police seize money or property they believe was obtained through illegal activity or purchased by drug money;
- Drugs were or allegedly were sold inside a house, with or without the owner’s knowledge; or
- An individual possessed a large amount of cash when charged with a drug offense.