Asset forfeiture is the government's seizure of property traceable to alleged white collar crime proceeds or used to commit the alleged crime. In white collar cases, forfeiture can include bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, business interests, investment accounts, and personal property. Federal asset forfeiture under 18 U.S.C. § 981 and related statutes is particularly aggressive — agents can seize assets BEFORE any criminal charges are filed based on probable cause. Recovering seized assets requires separate legal proceedings even if the criminal case is dismissed. Defense work focused on contesting the forfeiture scope is critical to preventing total financial destruction independent of the criminal outcome.
