| | | Effective PR

Civil forfeiture in the USA: examples of its use

FCRO Subsection: 
Nigel Morris-Cotterill

Be prepared to be amazed.

Stefan Cassella, principal of Asset Forfeiture Law LLC in the USA has produced a fascinating list of cases in which the USA, at a federal level, has used civil forfeiture in relation to proceeds of criminal conduct and assets used in the commission of offences. Many of the cases are in rem. The USA is not the only country to pursue such assets but it is unusually active in the use of in rem (i.e. against the asset compared with against the person) actions in doing so. The list demonstrates an extraordinary range of criminal conduct and of assets forfeited (isn't that a much better description than "recovered"?)

Cassala's website is at http://assetforfeiturelaw.us.

Civil Forfeiture Cases 2013-2021

The following is a list of civil forfeiture cases filed by federal authorities that are unrelated
to currency seizures by state or local police agencies.

United States v. 208 Burberry Handbags, 2012 WL 5398676 (W.D.N.Y. Nov. 2, 2012)
(trademark infringement);
United States v. One Tyrannosaurus Bataar Skeleton, 2012 WL 5834899 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 14,
2012) (dinosaur skeleton illegally smuggled from Mongolia);
United States v. $2,000,000 in U.S. Currency, 906 F. Supp.2d 1260 (M.D. Fla. 2012)
(drug money laundered by Mexican money exchange using US bank account);
United States v. $2,164,341 in U.S. Currency, 2013 WL 321768 (D. Ariz. Jan. 28,
2013) (drug proceeds of fugitive Mexican drug dealer);
United States v. Any and All Funds Contained in Bancorpsouth Account, 2013 WL 840042
(N.D. Ala. Mar. 6, 2013) (proceeds of fraud involving mortuary that provided services to
an organ donor center associated with the University of Alabama);
United States v. $1,026,781.61 in Funds From Florida Capital Bank, 2013 WL 1943436
(C.D. Cal. Apr. 16, 2013)(proceeds of murder of ex-wife);
United States v. One Gulfstream G-V Jet Aircraft, 941 F. Supp. 2d 1 (D.D.C. 2013) (aircraft
purchased with proceeds of public corruption by leader of West African country);
United States v. The Painting Known as Hannibal, 2013 WL 1890220 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 25,
2013) (forfeiture of painting based on false Customs declaration);
United States v. A 10th Century Cambodian Sandstone Sculpture, 2013 WL 1290515
(S.D.N.Y. Mar. 28, 2013) (cultural property stolen during civil war in Cambodia);
United States v. One M119 105mm Howitzer, Serial Number S793, 2013 WL 992664
(D. Ariz. Mar. 13, 2013) (weapon sold by unlicensed arms dealer);
United States v. $104,250.00 in U.S. Currency, 947 F. Supp.2d 560 (D. Md. 2013)
(currency found in drug courier’s carry-on luggage);
United States v. $7,599,358.09, 953 F. Supp.2d 549 (D.N.J. 2013)(proceeds of
fraud seized from defendant who promised to provide workmen’s comp
insurance but did not, and committed suicide before trial);
United States v. 318 Cartons of Love Roses and Mustic Vases, 520 Fed. Appx. 620 (9th Cir.
2013) (crack pipes imported into United States);

United States v. $8,440,190.00 in U.S. Currency, 719 F.3d 49 (1st Cir. 2013) (currency
tossed overboard by drug trafficker fleeing Coast Guard);
United States v. $671,160.00 in U.S. Currency, 730 F.3d 1051 (9th Cir. 2013) (money seized
from fugitive Canadian drug dealer);
In re 650 Fifth Avenue, 2013 WL 4572527 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 27, 2013) (building in New York
owned by Government of Iran and maintained in violation of economic sanctions);
United States v. Any and All Funds on Deposit at J.P. Morgan Chase, 2013 WL 5511348
(S.D.N.Y. Oct. 2, 2013) (bank account of Peruvian company laundering South American drug
proceeds through U.S. bank);
United States v. $399,101.96 More or Less, In United States Currency, 2013 WL 3994632
(W.D. Tex. Aug. 1, 2013) (proceeds of scheme to bribe public official to receive contracts to
provide medical services);
United States v. Value of Certain E-Metal Accounts, 2013 WL 5664678 (D. Md. Oct. 17, 2013)
(assets of company that used internet-based electronic gold business to launder criminal
proceeds);
United States v. 2005 Porsche Cayenne, 2013 WL 5755044 (M.D.N.C. Oct. 23, 2013)(car
carrying evidence and purchased with proceeds of credit card fraud);
United States v. All Funds on Deposit with R.J. O’Brien & Associates, 2013 WL 5567562 (N.D.
Ill. Oct. 9, 2013) (fund held in investment account of affiliate of Al Qaeda);
United States v. 12636 Sunset Avenue, Unit E-2, 991 F. Supp. 2d 709 (D. Md. 2014) (trafficking
in counterfeit goods);
United States v. Funds in the Amount of $1,669,675.00, 2014 WL 698553 (S.D. Fla. Jan. 16,
2014) ($1.6 million that target of an SEC investigation was attempting to move from the Cayman
Islands to Honduras through a New York bank);
United States v. $5,253.00 in U.S. Currency, 2014 WL 122254 (W.D.N.Y. Jan. 13, 2014)
(counterfeit merchandise being sold from retail outlets in New York);
United States v. $4,656,085.10 in Bank Funds, 2014 WL 552864 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 27, 2014)
(fraud proceeds defendant transferred to Panama to conceal from his wife during divorce
proceedings);
United States v. $154,853.00 in U.S. Currency, 744 F.3d 559 (8th Cir. 2014) (currency found in
heat-sealed packages in vehicle driven by courier who claimed no knowledge of the currency);
United States v. Real Property Located at 272 Old Montauk Highway, 2014 WL 726772
(E.D.N.Y. Feb. 22, 2014) (complex of luxury beachfront condos and hotels, alleging that it was
acquired with the proceeds of a massive securities fraud);
United States v. $142,256.00 in U.S. Currency, 2014 WL 547879 (D. Nev. Feb. 11, 2014)
(proceeds of identity theft);

United States v. $77,670.00 Previously Contained in Bank of America Account, 2014 WL
1669929 (D.N.J. Apr. 28, 2014) (international money laundering scheme / Black Market Peso
Exchange involving Los Angeles jewelry dealers);
United States v. All Funds on Deposit at Old Mutual of Bermuda, Ltd., 2015 WL 3883979 (S.D.
Tex. Jan. 29, 2015); United States v. All Funds on Deposit at Old Mutual of Bermuda, Ltd., 2014
WL 1689939 (S.D. Tex. May 1, 2014) (proceeds of Mexican public corruption laundered through
U.S. bank accounts);
United States v. 323 Quintales of Green Coffee Beans, 21 F. Supp.3d 122 (D.P.R. 2013) (illegal
importation of agricultural product);
United States v. Mask of Ka-Nefer-Nefer, 752 F.3d 737 (8th Cir. 2014) (3,000-year-old Egyptian
mask stolen from museum in Cairo);
United States v. $166,450.48 in U.S. Currency, 2014 WL 3891748 (D. Or. Aug. 7, 2014) (gold
dealer using precious metals to conduct unlicensed money transmitting business);
United States v. $72,050.00 in U.S. Currency, 587 Fed. Appx. 241 (6th Cir. 2014) (proceeds of
an investment fraud scheme involving an oil drilling venture);
United States v. $311,229.00 in U.S. Currency, 585 Fed. Appx. 549 (9th Cir. 2014) (proceeds of
an investment fraud scheme);
United States v. A 1937 Packard Super 12 Automobile, 3:13CV50201 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 3, 2014)
(Josef Stalin’s armor-plated Packard limousine misappropriated in Bulgaria and found in
Chicago museum);
United States v. $90,000 in U.S. Currency, 56 F. Supp.3d 744 (D. Md. 2014) (money found in
car of murdered drug dealer);
United States v. Armalite, Model AR-18, 2014 WL 5441185 (W.D. Ky. Oct. 22, 2014) (two
machine guns found in a storage locker when renter failed to pay the rent);
United States v. Real Property Known as 200 Acres of Land, 773 F.3d 654 (5th Cir. 2014) (real
property in Texas purchased with drug proceeds by Mexican drug dealers who remained in
Mexico);
United States v. One Parcel . . . 66 Branch Creek Dr., 2014 WL 6473212 (W.D. Tenn. Nov. 18,
2014) (property in Tennessee of fugitive drug dealer who fled to Lebanon);
United States v. $122,640 in U.S. Currency, 81 F. Supp.3d 482 (D. Md. 2015) (currency seized
from luggage of courier at the airport);
United States v. The Painting Known and Described as “Madonna and Child,” 2015 WL 108416
(S.D.N.Y. Jan. 6, 2015) (13th Century painting known as “Madonna and Child,” stolen from its
rightful owner in Europe, smuggled into the United States, and offered for sale at auction at
Sotheby’s in New York);
United States v. $25,982.28 in U.S. Currency, 2015 WL 410590 (N.D. Ohio Jan. 29, 2015)
(currency, vehicles and jewelry of murdered drug dealer);

United States v. $11,071,188.64 in U.S. Currency, 2015 WL 630291 (E.D. Mo. Feb. 13, 2015)
(funds derived from cocaine sales to Sinaloa drug cartel found in Florida brokerage account of
Caribbean company engaged in ostrich farming);
United States v. $1,181,895.00 in U.S. Currency, 2015 WL 631394 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 12, 2015)
(currency given to courier by “unknown” third party with instructions to hold it for person from
Mexico);
United States v. Funds . . . $56,634 in U.S. Currency on Deposit in Banesco Intl, 79 F. Supp.3d
112 (D.D.C. 2015) (proceeds from U.S. drug trafficking found in bank accounts in Panama);
United States v. All Assets Listed in Attachment A (MegaUpload, Ltd.), 89 F. Supp.3d 813 (E.D.
Va. 2015) (funds derived from theft of U.S. intellectual property on internet website managed
from New Zealand);
United States v. Real Property Located at 229 Potter Road, 2015 WL 778830 (D. Conn. Feb.
24, 2015) (property purchased with proceeds of health care fraud);
United States v. $29,373.00 in U.S. Currency, 86 F. Supp.3d 95 (D.P.R. 2015) (assets of owner
of small air transport company, involved in drug trafficking and found beaten to death in the
Dominican Republic);
United States v. All Assets Held in Account Number 80020796, 83 F. Supp.3d 360 (D.D.C.
2015) ($2 billion stolen from Nigeria by Gen. Abacha, laundered through U.S. banks, and
deposited in Jersey, France and the UK); United States v. All Assets . . . of Blue Holding (1) Pte.
Ltd, 712 Fed. Appx. 13 (D.C. Cir. 2018) (same);
United States v. Sum of $309,500,000, 85 F. Supp.3d 111 (D.D.C. 2015) ($309 million that ING
Bank allowed its customers to send into the United States from Iran and other countries in
violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act);
United States v. 29 Pre-Columbian and Colonial Artifacts, 2015 WL 1518033 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 2,
2015) (action to recover a collection of antiquities from Peru);
United States v. One Smith & Wesson 66 Revolver, 2015 WL 1505975 (S.D. Ga. Mar. 31, 2015)
(firearms in possession of alien who overstayed his visa);
United States v. Any and All Funds on Deposit in Account . . . at HSBC Bank, 2015 WL
1546350 (D.D.C. Apr. 6, 2015) (funds in accounts of Thai nationals indicted in federal court on
charges relating to the bribery of a foreign public official);
United States v. 2003 BMW X5, 2015 WL 2330292 (D. Md. May 15, 2015) (automobile about to
be exported from the Port of Baltimore to Nigeria that was purchased with the proceeds of a
fraudulently-obtained loan);
United States v. Real Property Located at 9144 Burnett Road, 86 F. Supp.3d 95 (D.P.R. 2015)
(property in Washington State involved in the laundering of assets of Romanian citizen
extradited to Romania to face criminal charges involving tens of millions of dollars in unpaid
excise taxes);

United States v. Any and All Radio Equipment, 2015 WL 1498967 (E.D. Tenn. Mar. 31, 2015)
(equipment used to operate unlicensed radio station; forfeited in lieu of criminal prosecution of
operator);
United States v. Funds in the Amount of $246,197.44, 2015 WL 1943346 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 29,
2015) (bank account used to receive payment for electronic goods, such as iphones and ipads,
sold to customers in the UAE, China, and Hong Kong, by Chicago-based electronics wholesaler
who knowingly purchased stolen and fraudulently-obtained mobile devices, repackaged them,
and sold them to customers);
United States v. $526,695.24 Seized from JP Morgan Chase Bank Investment Account, 2015
WL 2239111 (N.D. Ohio May 12, 2015) and 2015 WL 2239071 (N.D. Ohio May 12, 2015)
(assets of fugitive operators of illegal pharmacy who fled to Israel);
United States v. Approximately $620,349.85 Seized from Wachovia Bank Account Numbers
Ending *6176 and *6189, 2015 WL 3604044 (E.D.N.Y. June 5, 2015) (bank account of an online
retailer of computers and consumer electronics who knowingly accepted drug proceeds as
payment for some off its merchandise as part of a Black Market Peso Exchange);
In re Search of 32900 Five Mile Road, 2015 WL 3742589 (E.D. Mich. June 15, 2015) (payments
to law firm as part of mortgage fraud scheme);
In re The Premises Known and Described as 100 Sweeneydale Ave., 2015 WL 3607572
(E.D.N.Y. June 6, 2015) (counterfeit merchandise);
United States v. Prevezon Holdings, Ltd., 2015 WL 4719786 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2015) (proceeds
obtained by Russian criminal organization that stole the identities of legitimate Russian
companies and used them to obtain undeserved tax refunds totaling $230 million from the
Russian Treasury);
United States v. Real Property . . . 246 Main Street, 2015 WL 4254381 (M.D. Fla. July 13, 2015)
(property purchased with fraud proceeds);
United States v. Real Property Located at 8 Drift Street, 2015 WL 5007830 (D.N.J. Aug. 20,
2015) (property traceable to Chinese fraud proceeds transferred from China to the United
States);
United States v. All Assets Held at Bank Julius Baer & Co., 2015 WL 4450899 (D.D.C. July 20,
2015) (action to recover more than $250 million deposited into over 20 bank accounts located in
Guernsey, Antigua, Switzerland, Lithuania and Lichtenstein by former Ukrainian Prime Minister
Pavel Lazerenko); 2017 WL 65554 (D.D.C. Jan. 6, 2017) (same);
United States v. 6 Firearms, Accessories and Ammunition, 2015 WL 4660126 (W.D. Wash.
Aug. 5, 2015) (firearms purchased by elderly woman for convicted-felon son; forfeited civilly in
lieu of prosecution of mother);
United States v. Approximately $94,600 U.S. Currency, 2015 WL 5254542 (E.D. Wis. Sept. 9,
2015) (proceeds of sale of dietary supplements stolen from a laboratory, sold for $334,500, and
used to buy a Bentley automobile and various items of jewelry);

United States v. One 2014 Black Porsche Cayman Coupe, 2015 WL 6408009 (D.N.J. Oct. 20,
2015) (vehicle and other property purchased with $6.4 million in proceeds of Chinese trading
company’s submission of counterfeit U.S. coins to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia for redemption);
United States v. $465,789.31 Seized From Term Life Ins. Policy, 150 F. Supp.3d 175 (D. Conn.
2015) (proceeds of Ponzi scheme obtained by defendant who died after entering guilty plea);
United States v. Approximately $6,658.92 in U.S. Currency, 2015 WL 7750619 (E.D. Cal. Dec.
2, 2015) (action to recover over $100,00 in proceeds of investment fraud scheme);
United States v. All Property . . . in the UBS Financial Services, Inc. Account, 2015 WL 9243838
(S.D. Tex. Nov 17, 2015) (brokerage account involved in the laundering of the proceeds of
public corruption in Mexico);
United States v. Fifty-Five Boxes of Tide Downy Powder, 2015 WL 9581876 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 30,
2015) (tens of thousands of units of allegedly counterfeit health and beauty products);
United States v. All Funds on Deposit in Lee Munder Wealth Planning Resource Account, 2016
WL 287058 (D. Mass. Jan. 22, 2016) ($17.9 million in assets transferred as part of a bankruptcy
fraud scheme);
United States v. Various Restaurant Furniture and Good of Iranian Origin, 2016 WL 7496130
(C.D. Cal. Feb. 8, 2016) (goods imported from Iran in violation of 31 CFR 560.201 and 19
U.S.C. § 1595a(c));
United States v. 370 Units of Hardware, 2016 WL 1056599 (W.D. Tenn. Mar. 16, 2016)
(electronic hardware seized at the FedEx facility in Memphis on the ground that the property
bore a counterfeit trademark);
United States v. Real Property Known as 4401 Collins Ave, Unit 3315, 2016 WL 1546425 (S.D.
Fla. Apr. 15, 2016) (Miami Beach condo purchased with fraud proceeds);
United States v. $1,879,991.64 Previously Contained in Sberbank of Russia’s Interbank or
Correspondent Bank Account, 185 F. Supp.3d 493 (D.N.J. 2016) ($1.8 million in proceeds of
export of restricted items to Russia in violation of the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act and deposited in Russian bank); 2017 WL 396542 (D.N.J. Jan. 30, 2017) (same);
United States v. Real Property Known As 7208 East 65th Pl., 185 F. Supp.3d 1288 (N.D. Okla.
2016) (property of fugitive who defrauded terminally-ill cancer patients and fled to Mexico
following indictment);
United States v. FIE Titan Tiger Revolver, 2016 WL 1638786 (N.D. Ohio Apr. 21, 2016) (firearm
and 30 rounds of ammunition found in the possession of a convicted felon who claimed that
Pope Francis has taken control of the US military and domestic police forces);
United States v. Batato, 833 F.3d 413 (4th Cir. 2016) (civil forfeiture action against $75 million
held in Hong Kong and New Zealand derived from theft of intellectual property by MegaUpload);
Doraville Properties Corporation v. Her Majesty’s Attorney General [2016] JRC128, Royal Court,
Bailiwick of Jersey, (July 2016) (enforcement of US civil forfeiture judgment against $287 million
stolen by Gen. Abacha from Nigeria and laundered through the US);

In re 650 Fifth Ave. and Related Properties, 830 F.3d 66 (2nd Cir. 2016) (civil forfeiture action
against a building and related properties owned by front for the Government of Iran, and
financed in violation of IEEPA);
United States v. $50,900 in U.S Currency, 2016 WL 4257328 (D. Mass. Aug. 11, 2016) (money
wired from South America to purchase Gulfstream jet for drug organization);
United States v. Prevezon Holdings, Ltd., 839 F.3d 227 (2nd Cir. 2016) (the Magnitsky Case)
($1.9 million in assets of Russian criminal organization that stole the identities of legitimate
Russian companies, obtained undeserved tax refunds, and used it to purchase real property in
Manhattan);
United States v. 2005 Pilatus Aircraft, 838 F.3d 662 (5th Cir. 2016) (action against an airplane
owned by Mexican fugitive indicted on money laundering and bank fraud charges);
United States v. $506,069.09 Seized from First Merit Bank, 664 Fed. Appx. 422 (6th Cir. 2016)
(proceeds of illegally dispensing pain killers by doctor who fled to Pakistan), aff’g 2014 WL
7185585 (N.D. Ohio Dec. 16, 2014);
United States v. Two General Electric Aircraft Engines, 2016 WL 6495397 (D.D.C. Nov. 2,
2016) (civil forfeiture action against two aircraft engines being shipped to Iran in violation of US
law and were intended to be delivered to a terrorist organization: the Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps-Qods Force); United States v. Two General Electric Aircraft Engines, 2018 WL
2926155 (D.D.C. Jun. 11, 2018) (same);
United States v. Approximately 64 Dogs, 2016 WL 6651297 (C.D. Ill. Nov. 10, 2016) (dogs
being used in an illegal dogfighting operation);
United States v. Approximately 1,784,000 Contraband Cigarettes, 2016 WL 7387094 (W.D.
Wash. Dec. 21, 2016) (untaxed cigarettes forfeited as the proceeds of a violation of the
Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act);
United States v. $70,990,605, 2017 WL 573499 (D.D.C. Feb. 13, 2017) (action to recover funds
in Afghan banks traceable to $70 million in fraud proceeds paid to contractor to provide
transportation for military supplies in Afghanistan); United States v. Sum of $70,990,605, 4 F.
Supp.3d 189 (D.D.C. 2014) (same);
United States v. Tracts 31A, Lots 31 and 32, 852 F.3d 385 (5th Cir. 2017) (proceeds of
defrauding a school district of $3.7 million by submitting false or inflated invoices for electrical
supplies and materials);
United States v. Archaeological Resources Taken From The Emigrant Trail, 2017 WL 892806
(E.D. Cal. Mar. 6, 2017) (artifacts from the Gold Rush Era illegally taken from the Humboldt-
Toiyabe National Forest in violation of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), 16
U.S.C. § 470ee);
United States v. Real Property Known as 212 E. 47th St., 2017 WL 1496931 (D.N.J. Apr. 25,
2017) (condo traceable to $1.6 million taken from victims in an investment fraud scheme);
United States v. Twenty-Nine Pre-Columbian and Colonial Artifacts, 695 Fed. Appx. 461 (9th
Cir. 2017) (textiles, figurines and other “archaeological and ethnological material” being
imported into the US from Peru in violation of Peruvian law);

United States v. Vector Arms Inc. V.47 Rifle, 2017 WL 2838210 (W.D. Va. Jun. 30, 2017)
(machineguns seized from gun dealer whose license had been revoked);
United States v. $389,820.00 in U.S Currency, 2017 WL 2806814 (M.D. Ala. Jun. 28, 2017)
(firearms, jewelry, vehicles and cash found in residence of murdered drug dealer);
United States v. All Funds on Deposit at Sun Secured Advantage, 864 F.3d 374 (5th Cir. 2017)
($2.4 million in Bermuda bank account of corrupt Mexican official who laundered money in US
and became a fugitive);
United States v. $525,695.24 Seized from JP Morgan Chase Bank Investment Account, 869
F.3d 429 (6th Cir. 2017) and 869 F.3d 412 (6th Cir. 2017) (20 bank accounts, two real
properties, three vehicles, and cash of pharmacists who illegal dispensed oxycodone from
pharmacies in Ohio and fled to Israel);
United States v. All Wire Transactions Involving Dandong Zhicheng Metallic Material Co., 2017
WL 3233062 (D.D.C. May 22, 2017) (approving seizure of $4 million being transferred to North
Korea in violation of US sanctions); United States v. $4,083,935.00 of Funds Associated with
Dandong Chengtai Trading, Ltd., 2018 WL 8108633 (D.D.C. Sep. 17, 2018) (granting motion for
default judgment under § 981(a)(1)(A) and (I));
United States v. Eight (8) Counterfeit Watches, 2017 WL 3706040 (S.D. Ohio Aug. 28, 2017)
(counterfeit clothing and accessories violating copyright and trademark protections);
United States v. 5124 Gumwood Ave., 2017 WL 3842373 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 10, 2017) (residence
of fugitive Mexican drug dealer);
United States v. $215,587.22 in U.S. Currency, 282 F. Supp.3d 109 (D.D.C. 2017) (funds in
nine bank accounts of unlicensed international money transmitting business laundering money
for African officials);
United States v. 12 Parcels . . . Located in Carlisle, 2017 WL 4369485 (E.D. Ky. Oct. 2, 2017)
(farm and bank accounts that were the proceeds of crop insurance fraud or property involved in
the laundering of those proceeds);
United States v. $295,726.42 in Account Funds Seized, 2018 WL 295500 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 4,
2018) (proceeds of investment fraud scheme);
United States v. $272,000, More or Less, in U.S Currency, 2018 WL 948752 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 16,
2018) (currency left with third party by Chinese money launderer who fled to China);
United States v. Real Property Located at 120 Terriwood St., 2018 WL 1513641 (E.D.N.Y. Mar
27, 2018), aff’g 2017 WL 8640901 (E.D.N.Y. Jun. 22, 2017) (three parcels of real property that
were proceeds of cigarette trafficking);
United States v. 99,337 Pieces of Counterfeit Native American Jewelry, 2018 WL 1568725
(D.N.M. Mar. 27, 2018) (action by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to recover counterfeit Native
American Jewelry smuggled into the US from foreign countries and $289,000 in proceeds);
United States v. $297,638.00 in U.S. Currency, 2018 WL 2124088 (E.D.N.C. May 8, 2018)
(currency found in a plastic pickle barrel involved in illegal video gambling business);

United States v. $4,480,466.16 in Funds Seized, 2018 WL 2184500 (N.D. Tex. May 11, 2018).
(money from bank accounts and fleet of luxury automobiles seized during investigation of
massive fraud scheme);
United States v. Cardroom International, 726 Fed. Appx. 98 (2nd Cir. 2018) ($30 million seized
from companies engaged in illegal internet gambling);
United States v. $17,900 in U.S Currency, 2018 WL 2455436 (D.D.C. May 31, 2018) (backpack
containing drug proceeds inadvertently left behind by passenger on Amtrak train and turned in
to Amtrak police);
United States v. Real Property Located at 1407 N. Collins St., 901 F.3d 268 (5th Cir. 2018)
(bank accounts containing the proceeds of the sale of “spice,” a synthetic cannabinoid, various
parcels of real property either purchased with proceeds places from which the “spice” was
distributed);
United States v. $1,071,251.44 of Funds Associated with Mingzheng International Trading Ltd.,
324 F. Supp.3d 38 (D.D.C. 2018) ($1.9 million in six US bank accounts used by a Chinese
company to move money through the US financial system on behalf of an entity in North Korea);
United States v. One Assortment of 93 NFA-Regulated Weapons, 897 F.3d 961 (8th Cir. 2018)
(collection of firearms seized from person who attempted to assassinate the Chairman of the
Arkansas Medical Board with a grenade; collection used to compensate victim);
United States v. 3 Knife-Shaped Coins, 899 F.3d 295 (4th Cir. 2018) (archaeological artifacts
imported into the US in violation of the Cultural Property Implementation Act);
In re: VPH Pharmacy, Inc., 2018 WL 3574721 (E.D. Mich. Jul. 25, 2018) (action against
$242,000 in pharmacy’s bank account derived from drug diversion and/or health care fraud);
United States v. Real Property Known as 615 Elmhurst, 2018 WL 3655081 (S.D. Tex. Aug. 1,
2018) (real property in Texas derived from theft of millions of dollars in public funds in Mexico
and involved in money laundering);
United States v. One Painting Entitled “Secret Departure of Ivan the Terrible Before the
Oprichina,” No. 1:18-cv-3015 (D.D.C. Dec. 20, 2018) (painting stolen from Ukrainian art
museum during WWII; forfeitable as proceeds of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2314-15);
United States v. $73,947.35 in U.S Currency, 2018 WL 3956447 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 17, 2018)
(money derived from a scheme to submit false visa applications); United States v. $24,290.00 in
U.S. Currency, 2018 WL 6436435 (N.D. Tex. Dec. 6, 2018) (same);
United States v. All Assets . . . at Sun Life Financial Investments (Bermuda) Ltd., 2018 WL
4275214 (S.D. Tex. Sep. 7, 2018) (bank fraud relating to the theft of public funds from the
Mexican State of Tabasco);
United States v. U.S. Currency in the Amount of $13,845.15, 2018 WL 4611610 (E.D. Va. Aug.
24, 2018) (funds in bank account opened with a counterfeit passport);

United States v. $465,789.31 Seized from Term Life Ins. Policy, 2018 WL 4568408 (D. Conn.
Sep. 24, 2018) (civil forfeiture of proceeds of investment fraud scheme filed with defendant died
pending appeal):
United States v. Black Bersa, Thunder 40 Pistol, 2018 WL 4574340 (S.D. Ind. Sep. 24, 2018)
(firearm and ammunition forfeited from three-time convicted felon);
United States v. 10503 Campus Way South, 2018 WL 6834355 (D. Or. Dec. 27, 2018)
(residence purchased with proceeds of scheme to use stolen tax identification numbers to file
false tax returns);
United States v. $6,999,925.00 of Funds Associated with Velmur Management PTE Ltd, 2019
WL 1317336 (D.D.C. Mar. 22, 2019) (funds of Singapore company acting as a front for North
Korea, intending to use the money to purchase gasoil products for North Korea in violation of
the North Korea sanctions);
United States v. $26,535.00 in U.S. Currency, 2019 WL 1028130 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 1, 2019)
(currency found with the body of murdered drug dealer);
United States v. $148,500 of Blocked Funds, 2019 WL 1440882 (D.D.C. Mar. 29, 2019)
(forfeiture of proceeds of sale of machine tools to Syria blocked by OFAC for violation of
Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation Sanctions);
United States v. One 1980 Cessna Aircraft, 2019 WL 1386389 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 27, 2019)
(aircraft used to fly methamphetamine from California to Australia);
United States v. One 2005 Lagoon Sailing Catamaran, 2019 WL 1877439 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 28,
2019) (catamaran named The Bohemian Rhapsody purchased with part of $1.8 billion
procurement fraud against the Department of Defense);
United States v. $4,480,466.16 in Funds Seized From Bank of America, 942 F.3d 655 (5th Cir.
2019) (civil forfeiture action against funds seized from a vocational training school, alleging that
they were the proceeds “of a scheme to fleece veterans”);
United States v. $822,694.81 in U.S. Currency, 2019 WL 4369936 (D. Conn. Sep. 12, 2019)
(proceeds of Nigerian fraud scheme sold to third party in Connecticut);
United States v. The M/V Galactica Star, 784 Fed. Appx. 268 (5th Cir. 2019) (motor yacht
involved in laundering the proceeds of public corruption offenses committed by the Nigerian
Minister of Petroleum Resources);
United States v. $389,820.00 in U.S. Currency, 2019 WL 4935402 (M.D. Ala. Oct. 4, 2019)
($400,000 in cash wrapped in rubber bands and sealed in vacuum-sealed bags found in home
of murdered drug dealer);
United States v. $194,073.14 in U.S Currency, 2019 WL 5405305 (W.D. La. Oct. 22, 2019)
(funds of bitcoin exchange operating as an unlicensed money transmitting business);
United States v. $37,564,565.25 in Account No. xxxxxxxx9515, 2019 WL 5269073 (D.D.C. Oct.
17, 2019) (proceeds of fraud in Malaysia in the 1MDB case);

United States v. $525,695.24 Seized from JP Morgan Chase Bank Investment Account, 2019
WL 5597772 (N.D. Ohio Oct. 30, 2019) (civil forfeiture of proceeds of distribution of oxycodone
by fugitive who fled to Israel);
United States v. One Gold Ring with Carved Gemstone, 2019 WL 5853493 (D.D.C. Nov. 7,
2019) (assets of terrorist organization, ISIS, using stolen antiquities to finance terrorism);
United States v. Four (4) Firearms and 152 Rounds of Assorted Ammunition, 2019 WL 6896909
(N.D. Okla. Dec. 18, 2019) (forfeiture of firearms in the possession of person who “has been
committed to a mental institution”);
United States v. Any and All Ownership Interest Held in the Name . . . of Joseph Taub, 2020 WL
278762 (D.N.J. Jan. 16, 2020) (53 bank accounts containing the proceeds of securities fraud in
a market manipulation scheme);
United States v. $68,145.34 Held in Bellco Credit Union, 2020 WL 353115 (D. Col. Jan. 17,
2020) (employee of the Veterans Administration soliciting bribes and directing VA business to
home health agencies owned by his family members who overbilled the VA);
United States v. 60 Automotive Grilles, 799 Fed. Appx. 693 (11th Cir. 2020) (forfeiture of a
shipment of automotive parts, alleging that they were counterfeit goods that infringed on the
trademark of the Chrysler Corporation, the owner of the trademark);
United States v. $242,088.12 U.S. Currency, 2020 WL 90766 (W.D.N.Y. Jan. 8, 2020) (bank
account containing the proceeds of an illegal debt collection scheme);
United States v. Approximately $299,873.70, Seized from Bank of America Account, 2020 WL
390897 (S.D. Ala. Jan. 22, 2020) (bank accounts in the United States held in the names of
Chinese nationals residing in China, alleging that the money was sent from China to the United
States as part of a visa fraud scheme);
United States v. 286,161 Bottles, 2020 WL 550598 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 3, 2020) (bottles and boxes of
dietary supplements seized by the FDA when manufacturer failed to maintain adequate pest
control and other quality control);
United States v. Real Property Located at 8 Drift Street, 2020 WL 833070 (D.N.J. Feb. 20,
2020) (real property and bank accounts traceable to the theft of $3.7 million in China);
United States v. $6,999,925.00 of Funds Associated with Velmur Management PTE Ltd, 2020
WL 1332024 (D.D.C. Mar. 23, 2020) (Singapore company acting as a front for North Korea,
wired $2 million to another company through US correspondent bank accounts, intending to use
the money to purchase gasoil products for North Korea in violation of the North Korea
sanctions);
United States v. $56,471,329.88 in Proceeds From the Sale of a Bond, 466 F. Supp.3d 63
(D.D.C. 2020) (manufacturer agrees to forfeiture of assets derived from violation of the Arms
Export Control Act as part of deferred prosecution agreement);
United States v. Twenty-Four Cryptocurrency Accounts, 2020 WL 4049914 (D.D.C. July 20,
2020) (virtual currencies in “wallets” used to pay for child pornography from South Korean
website);

United States v. Krishnan’s Real and Personal Property, 2020 WL 3510688 (E.D.N.C. Jun. 29,
2020) (property of fugitive charged with introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce
through his food-processing business in North Carolina before fleeing to India);
United States v. All Petroleum-Product Cargo, 2020 WL 3771953 (D.D.C. Jul. 2, 2020) (civil
forfeiture action against the cargo of four vessels seized on the high seas en route to deliver
gasoline from Iran to Venezuela on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a foreign
terrorist organization); United States v. Oil Tanker Bearing International Maritime Organization
Number 9116512, 2020 WL 4569424 (D.D.C. Aug. 7, 2020) (related case);
United States v. Obaid, 971 F.3d 1095 (9th Cir. 2020) (civil forfeiture of property derived from
1MDB scheme in Malaysia laundered by Saudi citizen in California);
United States v. Real Property Located at 2323 Main Street, 2020 WL 4373414 (C.D. Cal. Mar.
11, 2020) (warehouses in California used to store aluminum illegally imported from China);
United States v. 113 Virtual Currency Accounts, 2020 WL 4515361 (D.D.C. Aug. 4, 2020)
(virtual currency accounts held by persons acting on behalf of North Korea who stole the virtual
currency by hacking South Korean virtual currency exchanges);
United States v. 697, 701, 709 Daniel Road, 2020 WL 5026874 (W.D. Va. Aug. 25, 2020) (civil
forfeiture action against a parcel of land in rural Virginia used by the Jalisco Cartel to distribute
drugs imported from Mexico);
United States v. Letter From Alexander Hamilton, 498 F. Supp.3d 158 (D. Mass. 2020) (letter
sent by Alexander Hamilton to the Marquis de Lafayette advising him of the movement of British
troops in New England during the Revolutionary War; stolen from the Massachusetts archives
and recovered in 2018 at auction house);
United States v. One Parcel . . . 19 Mountain Ave., 2020 WL 6729261 (D. Conn. Nov. 16, 2020)
(residence where defendant produced child pornography);
United States v. Approximately $2,028,163.59, 2020 WL 8084976 (E.D. Va. Dec. 3, 2020) ($2
million held in a bank account used as part of a scheme to employ illegal aliens and to launder
and structure the proceeds of that scheme);
In Re: The Matter of 27551 South Lazy Meadow Way, 2021 WL 96247 (M.D. La. Jan. 11, 2021)
(residence of fugitive drug dealer wanted on murder charges);
United States v. $148,967.00 in U.S. Currency, 2020 WL 8225328 (N.D. Ga. Dec. 16, 2020).
(forfeiture of two luxury vehicles and the funds in two bank accounts comprising proceeds of the
illegal distribution of opioid painkillers);
United States v. Real Property Known as 223 Spring Water Lane, 2021 WL 144245 (E.D. Ky.
Jan. 15, 2021) (real property purchased with proceeds of – and used to facilitate – a pill mill
operation);
United States v. $1,546,076.35 in Bank Funds, 2020 WL 8172984 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 1, 2020)
(proceeds of advertising for sex-trafficking on Backpage internet site);

United States v. $46,342.00 in U.S. Currency, 2021 WL 400505 (E.D. Ky. Feb. 4, 2021).(civil
forfeiture of $46,342 and 22 firearms of defendant convicted of distributing oxycodone but died
pending appeal);
United States v. 303 Virtual Currency Accounts, 2021 WL 663190 (D.D.C. Feb. 19, 2021)
(virtual currency accounts used to facilitate purchase of child pornography from DarkScandals
website);
United States v. $208,420.00 in U.S. Currency, 2021 WL 633857 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 18, 2021)
(currency seized at indoor marijuana grow operation);
United States v. Real Properties Located in Sciotio and Lawrence Counties, 2021 WL 1268365
(E.D. Ky. Apr. 6, 2021) (real property and bank accounts of defendant charged in state court
with diverting controlled substances from an addiction treatment clinic);
United States v. $179,100.00 U.S. Currency, 2021 WL 1175226 (S.D. Ind. Mar. 26, 2021)
($179,100 in currency wrapped in rubber bands and divided among 25 manila envelopes found
in luggage at TSA checkpoint in Indianapolis);
United States v. Approximately $252,140.00 in U.S. Currency, 2021 WL 1239822 (W.D.N.C.
Apr. 2, 2021) ($252,140 in currency wrapped in rubber bands found in carry-on luggage in
Charlotte);
United States v. $46,740 in U.S. Currency, 2021 WL 1299105 (D.S.C. Apr. 6, 2021) ($46,740 in
cash bound with rubber bands found in carry-on luggage in Columbia, SC);
United States v. 155 Virtual Currency Assets, 2021 WL 1340971 (D.D.C. Apr. 9, 2021) (155
bitcoin accounts belonging to entities engaged in planning or perpetrating acts of terrorism);
United States v. $102,090 in U.S Currency, 2021 WL 1393064 (N.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2021)
($102,090 in currency found in a safe along with quantities of cocaine, marijuana, scales and
other drug paraphernalia, and three handguns);
United States v. FaceMaskCenter.com, 2021 WL 1578294 (D.D.C. Apr. 22, 2021) (internet
website and four related Facebook pages forfeitable as assets of a person providing material
support to ISIS);
United States v. $1,707,937.91 in Funds Seized From Atlantic Capital Bank, 2021 WL 1574743
(N.D. Ga. Apr. 22, 2021) (proceeds of fraud in the sale of N95 Respirator Masks during the
pandemic);
United States v. 391.5873617 in Bitcoin, 2021 WL 1627694 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 26, 2021) ($22.2
million in Bitcoins derived from selling fentanyl and opioids from the Darknet marketplace);
United States v. Three Sums Totaling $1,207,035.31, 2021 WL 2255173 (D.D.C. June 3, 2021)
(banks accounts of entity designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist providing support
to Hezbollah);
United States v. Funds Seized From Fidelity Investments Account, 2021 WL 2815840 (S.D. Ga.
July 6, 2021) (investment accounts held by doctor running a pill mill operation);

United States v. 2017 Lexus ES 350, 2021 WL 2647008 (E.D. La. June 28, 2021) (Lexus, Rolls
Royce, and $275,000 constituting proceeds of the fraudulent application for funds under the
Paycheck Protection Program designed to provide pandemic relief);
United States v. The Proceeds from the Sale of a Condominium, 2021 WL 3573057 (C.D. Cal.
Jul. 27, 2021) (funds collected by Philippine citizen through bribes, kickbacks, and
embezzlement and laundered in the United States);
United States v. 2009 Acura TL, 2021 WL 3415180 (E.D. Va. July 19, 2021) (vehicle used by
leader of the MS-13 gang to distribute illegal drugs in Virginia);
United States v. $400,108.00, 2021 WL 3741542 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 24, 2021) (bulk cash being
smuggled from New York to Istanbul found in carry-on luggage at JFK airport);
United States v. M/Y Galactica Star, 13 F.4th 448 (5th Cir. 2021) (yacht and real property
acquired with proceeds of oil and gas contracts illegally obtained by paying bribes to the
Minister of Petroleum Resources for Nigeria);
United States v. Two Condominiums, 2021 WL 3810273 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 26. 2021) (two condos
purchased with proceeds of bio-tech company’s false claims to health care benefit programs,
and defrauding the investors);
United States v. Approximately $299,873.70 Seized From a Bank of America Account, 15 F.4th
1332 (11th Cir. 2021) (funds sent into U.S. by Chinese nationals as part of visa fraud scheme);
United States v. All Funds Held in Escrow by Clyde & Co., 2021 WL 4816624 (C.D. Cal. June 4,
2021) (funds in the United Kingdom derived from the operation of a drillship that was purchased
with funds illegally diverted from 1MDB in Malaysia);
United States v. 89.9270303 Bitcoins, More or Less, 2021 WL 4307375 (W.D. Tex. Sept. 22,
2021) ($115,000 stolen from gift cards by store employee and converted Bitcoins);
United States v. All Petroleum-Product Cargo Aboard the Bella, 2021 WL 4502056 (D.D.C. Oct.
1, 2021) (cargo of Iranian oil shipped in violation of sanctions by Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps (“IRGC”), a designated foreign terrorist organization);
United States v. Approximately $3,275.20 Seized from Bank of America, 2021 WL 5300512
(S.D. Fla. Nov. 15, 2021) (millions of dollars in payments on contracts to support oil-drilling
operations in Venezuela obtained by paying bribes to Venezuelan officials);
United States v. $429,900.00 of Blocked Funds, 2021 WL 5050070 (D.D.C. Nov. 1, 2021)
(money sent to two front companies sending money through the U.S. financial system to
purchase telecommunications equipment for export to North Korea in violation of sanctions);
United States v. 171 “Dehlavieh” Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, 2021 WL 5310567 (D.D.C. Nov.
15, 2021) (arsenal of Iranian-made weapons seized by U.S. Navy from two vessels in the
Arabian Sea);
United States v. Defendant No. 1: . . . 12526 West 164th St., 2021 WL 5038795 (D. Kan. Oct.
27, 2021) (residence purchased with proceeds of investment fraud scheme);

United States v. Fifty-Three Virtual Currency Accounts, 2021 WL 5206205 (D.D.C. Nov. 9,
2021) (53 virtual currency accounts involved in money laundering for the al-Qassam Brigades, a
terrorist organization);

(Complete to the end of December 2021)

(this list can be downloaded in pdf format from http://assetforfeiturelaw.us/w...)

---------------- Advertising ----------------

--------------------------------------