Dirty money: How asset forfeiture is returning billions to the federal coffers

It’s like an unforgettable scene from the television crime…

18 U.S.C. § 981. CIVIL FORFEITURE

18 U.S.C. § 981. CIVIL FORFEITURE (a) (1) The following property, real or personal, is subject to forfeiture to the United States: (A) Any property involved in a transaction in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956, 1957, or 1960, or any property traceable to . . . (C) Any property derived from proceeds traceable to . . . any offense constituting specified unlawful activity, 18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(7). . . (b)(2) Seizures pursuant to this section shall be made pursuant to a warrant obtained in the same manner as provided for a search warrant under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure . . . (g) (1) . . . the court shall stay the civil forfeiture proceeding if the court determines that civil discovery will adversely affect a related criminal investigation or prosecution of a related criminal case. . . .

Taken

On a bright Thursday afternoon in 2007, Jennifer Boatright, a…