mintzerlaw

Criminal Asset Forfeiture

Houston Criminal Asset Forfeiture Attorney

State and federal criminal investigations can lead to the confiscation of property and assets used to facilitate
the criminal activity, acquired with the proceeds of criminal wrongdoing or are the result of the commission
of a crime. For example, assets that are purchased with the proceeds of a drug crime are frequently seized.
An owner of property can become the target of government forfeiture of assets proceedings even
without being convicted of committing a crime.

What is Criminal Forfeiture?

Asset forfeiture cases brought by the government are either civil or criminal. Civil forfeiture involves
a lawsuit filed against the property the government is attempting to seize. The owner of the property
is not the direct target of the lawsuit. The owner becomes merely a claimant asserting an
interest in the property, so the owner does not have to be guilty of criminal conduct.

Criminal forfeiture is usually sought by the government as part of the sentence imposed
following the criminal conviction of the owner of the property.
Most asset forfeiture cases are civil.

Federal law requires the government to prove by a preponderance of the
evidence that it is entitled to seize the property.

Consequences of Criminal Asset Forfeiture

Because civil asset forfeiture does not require a criminal conviction, a person without knowledge
of any criminal wrongdoing could receive notification of the government’s intention to seize
assets. This might happen when a third party who might have purchased or contributed
to the purchase of the asset used money obtained through criminal conduct.

Defending the Asset Forfeiture Case

A person who is the target of a government forfeiture proceeding is entitled to a hearing.
Houston criminal defense lawyer Rand Mintzer is a skilled litigator who understands
that most asset forfeiture cases do not entail the filing of criminal charges by the
government. In such cases, a defense strategy establishing that the property
owner was not aware of the illegal source of the asset or the funds could
entitle the owner to retain the asset.

Mr. Mintzer uses his criminal defense experience and skills in criminal forfeiture cases
to challenge the prosecution’s case theory and the evidence. Weakening the criminal
case against the accused can lead to negotiated settlements in which the owner
retains the targeted property.