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New York Asset Forfeiture Lawyer
New York Asset Forfeiture defense may involve DEA seizures, federal forfeiture notices, seized cash, vehicles, bank accounts, property, criminal investigations, and deadlines to contest forfeiture. These matters should be addressed early because the first decisions can affect evidence, deadlines, negotiations, hearings, sanctions, license consequences, financial exposure, and long-term reputation.
Lebedin Kofman LLP represents clients across New York City, Long Island, and related state, federal, school, and administrative proceedings.
DEA and Federal Asset Seizure Experience
Lebedin Kofman LLP has handled serious asset-forfeiture matters, including a DEA seizure matter in which more than $1 million in seized assets was recovered for a client. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every forfeiture matter depends on its own facts, deadlines, notices, evidence, and procedural posture.
Issues to Review Early
- Deadlines, notices, hearing dates, response requirements, and preservation of evidence.
- Statements, digital communications, witness accounts, records, body-camera or surveillance video, school records, agency documents, or chemical-test evidence.
- Collateral consequences involving license, school, employment, professional licensing, immigration, finances, or reputation.
Defense Strategy
The defense may involve challenging the legal sufficiency of the allegation, identifying procedural defects, preserving favorable evidence, preparing for hearings, coordinating expert or mitigation resources, negotiating strategically, and protecting the client’s long-term interests.
Call 646-663-4430 or contact the firm for a free consultation.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I contact counsel about asset forfeiture?
As early as possible. Deadlines, statements, evidence preservation, school or court procedures, and collateral consequences can move quickly. Early strategy can affect the direction of the matter.
Can asset forfeiture affect my record, license, school, or career?
Yes. Depending on the matter, consequences can include criminal exposure, license issues, academic discipline, employment consequences, professional licensing issues, immigration concerns, financial loss, and reputational harm.
Why contact Lebedin Kofman LLP?
Lebedin Kofman LLP handles serious criminal, DWI, federal, Title IX, disciplinary, and high-stakes matters where the outcome can affect liberty, education, career, reputation, and long-term future.
Asset Forfeiture Defense for DEA, Federal, and New York Seizures
Asset forfeiture cases can move on a different track from the criminal case. The government may try to keep cash, bank funds, vehicles, real property, business assets, or other property even before guilt is proven. Deadlines can be short, and the first response can affect whether property is preserved, challenged, negotiated, or lost by default.
Lebedin Kofman LLP handles serious criminal and forfeiture-related matters involving DEA investigations, federal prosecutions, drug cases, fraud cases, money laundering allegations, seized cash, bank accounts, and property-restraint issues. The firm recently recovered more than $1 million in assets seized from a client by the DEA. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, but that type of experience matters when the government is trying to keep property.
Issues That Often Matter in Forfeiture Cases
- whether the government gave proper notice and whether a claim must be filed quickly;
- whether the property is alleged to be proceeds, facilitating property, substitute assets, or otherwise connected to a crime;
- whether the owner has an innocent-owner defense or another ownership-based claim;
- whether the seizure, search, warrant, traffic stop, or bank restraint can be challenged;
- whether the forfeiture case overlaps with a criminal investigation, indictment, plea negotiation, sentencing, restitution, or tax issue;
- whether early negotiation, documentation, financial tracing, or litigation can narrow the dispute or help recover assets.
Why Early Counsel Matters
A person who waits too long can lose rights without ever reaching the merits. Counsel may need to preserve deadlines, communicate with the seizing agency, file claims, review warrants and notices, coordinate with criminal-defense strategy, and gather records showing legitimate ownership or source of funds.
White Collar, Money Laundering, and Public Corruption Defense Topics
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