Houston Civil and Criminal Asset Forfeiture DefenseUnder federal asset forfeiture statutes, certain property that was either used in the commission of a crime or reflects the proceeds of criminal activity can be seized from the defendant. Clever prosecutors can use these forfeiture laws as an additional form of punishment in a drug trafficking or fraud case, or they can also use apply them to pressure a defendant with much to lose into cooperation with the government or as extra leverage in negotiations. Please contact experienced Houston criminal defense attorneys Stan Schneider and Ned Barnett for a free consultation about your best options in an asset forfeiture case. We can protect your interests with respect to your property while we are defending you on the underlying charges of money laundering, fraud, or drug conspiracy. If you are able to engage us prior to indictment, we can still identify the potential for the forfeiture of assets as part of your broader criminal exposure and develop your defense accordingly. The property seized and forfeited from a federal criminal defendant most often includes cash and motor vehicles, both as proceeds of the offense charged and as instruments of criminal activity — usually stemming from the purchase, sale or transportation of drugs. Assets seized as illegal profits, however, can be in practically any form including:
A skilled defense lawyer can use gaps in the connection between seized assets and the alleged underlying criminal activity to build a strong defense in an asset forfeiture proceeding. To learn more about our ability to expand your options in an asset forfeiture case pending in the federal courts, please contact Stan Schneider and Ned Barnett in Houston. |
Asset Forfeiture
