Civil asset forfeiture allows police in many U.S. jurisdictions to seize property without charging owners with crimes. The article recounts cases in which large cash sums were taken from a Virginia restaurateur ($18,000), a Texas nurse ($40,000, later returned after litigation), and an Oklahoma musician ($53,000 for charity, returned after media scrutiny). Recent state reforms—including bans in Maine, Nebraska, North Carolina and New Mexico and changes in about two dozen other states—aim to reduce abuses and eliminate the profit incentive critics say drives wrongful seizures.
When Police Take Your Cash: How Civil Asset Forfeiture Lets Authorities Seize Property Without Charges
Border Patrol Seized Her $40,000—Without Charging Her With a Crime
Across much of the United States, police can legally take your property even when you haven’t been charged with a crime. That power—known as civil asset forfeiture—allows authorities to seize cash, vehicles and sometimes even homes based on suspicion alone, without requiring a criminal conviction.
This article summarizes real cases that critics say show how the law can be abused, explains reforms underway in several states, and includes perspectives from both opponents and original supporters of the policy.
High-Profile Cases
Mandrel Stuart (Virginia): Restaurant owner Mandrel Stuart was stopped while driving and found with $18,000 he said was earmarked to buy equipment for his restaurant. Police told Stuart they didn’t believe his explanation, accused him of dealing drugs, released him without charges—and kept the cash.
Anthonia Nwaorie (Texas / Border Patrol): Nurse Anthonia Nwaorie had saved $40,000 to open a medical clinic in Nigeria. At the airport, Border Patrol agents questioned her and—according to Nwaorie—did not accept her explanation. She recalls, "They poured everything, my clothes, my personal things, on the floor….I didn't know they were going to take the money!" The funds were seized but she was never criminally charged; after litigation by the libertarian law firm the Institute for Justice, the money was eventually returned.
Eh Wah (Oklahoma): Musician Eh Wah was stopped for a broken brake light while transporting $53,000 his band had raised for charity. Officers reportedly said they would release him but would keep the cash. The Institute for Justice later represented Wah; media coverage, including reporting by The Washington Post that the money was intended for an orphanage, helped prompt authorities to drop the case and return the funds.
Voices From Both Sides
Critics say the law creates a profit motive for seizures because some of the money taken can flow back to law enforcement budgets. Dan Alban, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, argued, "If we were drawing up a diagram of a criminal organization, you would call civil asset forfeiture money laundering."
Even some original proponents now express regret. Brad Cates, who helped craft early federal forfeiture rules as director of the Justice Department’s Asset Forfeiture Office, said the policy targeted narcotics proceeds but had unintended consequences: "We were proud of it. We were taking Colombian narcotics money…We created a monster." He added that while authorities "took billions and billions of dollars out of the system," it did not meaningfully reduce drug trafficking.
Legal Reforms and Trends
There have been notable reforms at the state level. Maine, Nebraska, North Carolina and New Mexico now bar civil asset forfeiture unless a criminal conviction occurs. Roughly two dozen other states have tightened standards or limited how much seized money remains with police agencies. Advocates say these changes help remove the profit incentive that critics blame for abusive seizures.
Legal challenges by public-interest groups, increased media scrutiny, and legislative action have combined to push reforms in many jurisdictions. Still, critics contend more change is needed to protect innocent people whose property is taken without charges.
What You Can Do
If you or someone you know has had property seized, consider contacting a civil-rights or public-interest law firm experienced in forfeiture cases; document all interactions with law enforcement; and consult resources that track state-level forfeiture laws and reforms.
To watch a full documentary on the issue, see WhenCopsBecomeRobbers.com.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY JFS PRODUCTIONS INC. This summary is based on reporting that originally appeared at Reason.com.
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