Testimony on Civil Forfeiture Before the Civil Rights Commission
The following is a transcript of the testimony of Stef Cassella before the South Carolina Civil Rights Commission on the use of the civil forfeiture laws. The testimony explains how civil forfeiture works, gives examples of when it is used, and addresses the criticism that it is lacking in due process and is unfairly applied […]
TV Interview on Forfeiture of Russian Assets
This is a clip from an interview on March 3, 2022 concerning the use of the forfeiture laws to recover the assets of Russian oligarchs in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Judge Jackson on Asset Forfeiture
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated to the Supreme Court by President Biden, has written two significant opinions on federal asset forfeiture law. One discusses the Government’s ability to obtain a forfeiture money judgment equal to the value of property used to facilitate a drug offense when that property is not available for forfeiture. The other […]
Cambridge 2021 Symposium
I had the privilege of making six presentations at the 2021 Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime. In four of them, I used PowerPoint presentations. In response to requests for copies of those presentations, I am posting them here. Workshop 20 – Non-Conviction-Based Forfeiture Cassella — Session 12 – Trade-Based Money Laundering Cassella – Session […]
Forfeiture and Money Laundering Training for Law Enforcement Agents
This 90-page lecture outline was provided to law enforcement agents as part of their training on asset forfeiture and money laundering. It was presented at a training seminar for the United States Secret Service in Charleston, SC on July 28, 2021. With respect to forfeiture, it begins with an overview of why asset forfeiture is […]
Using Civil Forfeiture to Seize Cryptocurrency
As the seizure in May 2021 of the bitcoins used to pay the ransom in the Colonial Pipeline case makes clear, civil forfeiture is the vehicle that allows the Government to recover such property when the perpetrators remain unknown or abroad. This article from several years ago by AUSA Shirley Emehelu (D.N.J.) explains how cryptocurrencies […]
Seizure of Bitcoin in Ransomware / Colonial Pipeline Case
The Government used the civil forfeiture laws to seize 67.3 bitcoin, valued at over $2 million, that was traceable to the ransom paid by Colonial Pipeline in the May 2021 ransomware case. The following are the warrant and probable cause affidavit showing how the FBI traced the ransom payment using blockchain analysis. Colonial Pipeline Affidavit […]
ACAMS Webinar: Intro to Asset Forfeiture for Bank Compliance Officers
On June 2, 2021, I joined FBI SA Dennis Lormel (ret.) in presenting an introduction to asset forfeiture for bank compliance officers entitled, “Webinar: Understand How Law Enforcement Uses Asset Forfeiture to Fight Criminals.” The program was sponsored by ACAMS and hosted by Scott Grob. After explaining the basic “why” and “how” of asset forfeiture, […]
Administrative Forfeiture in the United States
On May 21, 2021 I had the opportunity to give a talk on administrative forfeiture at the 13th National Symposium on Money Laundering and Financial Crimes at the Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, in Toronto. The following is the text of my presentation. It explains the policy reasons for doing uncontested asset forfeiture cases […]
Report for the Cullen Commission: Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture in the United States
The Cullen Commission is an official body in Vancouver, British Columbia, inquiring into the need to enact legislation enhancing the province’s criminal money laundering statutes and related asset forfeiture laws. This report, which was submitted into evidence before the Commission on May 10, 2021, along with sworn testimony, summarizes the money laundering and asset forfeiture […]