Recovering Seized Assets and Forfeited Money for New Jersey Clients
Assets may be seized for several reasons. According to federal and New Jersey state laws, assets may be seized if they are used to facilitate the commission of a crime, if they are the proceeds of a crime or if they have been purchased with the proceeds of a crime.
Many assets fall into these three categories. A getaway car may be seized, for example, because it was used to assist someone in the commission of a crime. Money or other property used to purchase contraband such as illegal narcotics is considered proceeds of criminal activity. Finally, a car may also be seized because prosecutors believe they can prove that it was bought with money earned by a drug dealer's narcotic sales, for example.
Similarly, a house may be seized because it was the site of a large-scale marijuana growing operation. A large bank account in the growers' names may also be seized if the accused cannot show how they earned the money legally.
Asset forfeiture occurs in white collar crimes as well. Defendants often have their assets seized because prosecutors allege that the assets were bought with proceeds of an illegal business enterprise. It may be alleged Medicare fraud, for example, or a check-cashing scheme. Asset forfeiture also occurs in insurance fraud cases related to alleged arson or homicide. In these cases, defendants may forfeit their insurance policy proceeds.
Handling Both Civil and Criminal Matters in New Jersey Courts
At the Law Office of Sara Sencer McArdle, LLC in Randolph, New Jersey, we represent people in a broad spectrum of criminal matters. Many of our clients have faced asset forfeiture in addition to criminal charges. While they face charges in criminal court — charges such as murder, drug trafficking or racketeering — they also face civil forfeiture actions against their assets.
We handle both criminal and civil matters for our clients, protecting their rights and their interests in property. We also take asset forfeiture cases on referral from other criminal defense attorneys who wish to focus on the criminal aspects of cases while we focus on the civil. Depending on other lawyers' needs, we are also available to consult on matters of asset forfeiture.
Contact a Morristown Forfeiture Attorney
Call an attorney at our office at 973-607-2774, toll free at 888-449-4913 or simply complete our online contact form. We urge you to contact us as soon as possible because the government places strict time limits on asset forfeiture cases. Failure to take action within those limits may waive your right to contest the forfeiture of your assets.
