Do I Need a Local Attorney to Fight Airport or Mail Money Seizure by Customs or Postal Inspectors?
Your money was seized by U.S. Customs at the airport or by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) during a mail inspection. One of the first questions many people ask is: Do I need to hire an attorney in the same state as me or where the seizure occurred to get my money back?
The answer is NO. You do NOT need to hire a local attorney since these are federal cash seizures, governed by nationwide laws (18 USC § 981, 982, and 983).
What you need is an experienced federal forfeiture attorney who handles airport and mail-related money seizures anywhere in the country.
Attorney Dan Smith of San Diego Defenders has over 35 years of experience in federal defense and has successfully helped hundreds of clients nationwide get their seized property back from the Government. See our recent results here.
Call us at (619) 258-8888 for a free, confidential consultation, or fill out our contact request form here.
San Diego Defenders Handles Nationwide Cash Seizures by Customs and USPIS (Whether Mailed by FedEx, UPS, or USPS)
At San Diego Defenders, we regularly and successfully handle airport money seizures by Customs and cash seizures from USPS packages involving the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, sometimes even in the absence of any criminal charges.
Here’s how:
Our clients are typically back home when they receive a Notice of Seizure letter through certified mail, and they don’t know where to start. The letter outlines your rights and the options to get your property back.
This is where San Diego Defenders comes in. Whether the money was seized from a checked bag, carry-on, or express mail envelope, we will know exactly how to respond and meet the strict federal deadlines involved based on the facts of your case.
Attorney Smith generally files a claim and warns against petitions. The Government prefers petitions since they give people no opportunity to participate in the “due process” of legal arguments; therefore, people often write the wrong things while meaning well. This means the Government would have a greater chance of keeping your property.
Petitions also give the Government no time limit to respond, and we’ve seen petitions go unanswered for almost an entire year, just to receive a rejection. While you can submit a supplemental petition after your first rejection, we have never seen a rejection reversed. Once you receive the second rejection, there is nothing else you can do. Cash and property, if forfeited, are gone. Call San Diego Defenders at (619) 258-8888, and we will explain.
Having an attorney file a claim for your seized money ensures your right to participate in due process, and the matter is handled attorney-to-attorney. Claims also give the Government’s lawyer a limited time frame to make a decision based on your attorney’s persuasive argument.
Choosing to file a claim is why our Forfeiture Law Firm is so successful, and we have successfully represented clients from all over the U.S. in recovering funds seized at airports and mail centers in states like California, Florida, Texas, New York, Ohio, and even territories such as Puerto Rico.
You do not need to be in the same state, and neither do we, to win. We win cases in all 50 states.
Recent Case Results: Cash Returned After Money Seizure
Our client was traveling from LaGuardia Airport when Customs agents in New York seized $29,350 in cash from her checked luggage under suspicion of illegal activity, in violation of 18 USC § 981, 1956, and 1961. Although the seizure occurred in New York and our client resided elsewhere, our San Diego-based office successfully handled the entire case and recovered the legally earned cash.
Another previous client, a real estate investment company owner residing in South Carolina, had $70,300 in cash seized by the DEA at LAX while traveling because the DEA claimed the money was also suspected to be from illegal activity under 21 USC § 881, 19 USC § 1602–1619, and 18 USC § 983, despite the funds being 100% legitimate. San Diego Defenders successfully secured the cash’s return despite being located outside of Los Angeles and across the country from our client.
These cases serve as proof that you do not need to hire a local attorney when it comes to fighting cash seizures nationwide. San Diego Defenders will fight for you, no matter where.
Call San Diego Defenders if Your Money Was Seized by Customs or Postal Inspectors!
If your cash was seized by Customs at the airport or by USPIS through the mail, don’t wait to take action. These agencies work fast, and there are strict deadlines you must meet to get your money back, or else all will be lost to the Government.
Call San Diego Defenders today at (619) 258-8888 for a free, confidential consultation. We will explain your options and handle the process from start to finish, no matter where in the U.S. your money was taken. Se habla Español.
