“DEA Seized $8K from Georgia Man — Court Orders Them to Pay It Back (and Cover His $15K Legal Fees)”

Brian Moore Jr. was on his way to Los Angeles to shoot a music video when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers stopped him at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. His hair was dyed green, he was carrying thousands in cash — and that alone, he says, was enough for agents to label him “suspicious.”

“They told me that I looked suspicious, and they were just going to take my money based off the fact that I looked suspicious,” Moore told Channel 2 Action News.

The DEA seized more than $8,000 in cash that day. Moore was never arrested. Never charged with a crime. Yet his money was gone.

He fought the seizure in court — and won. But victory came at a heavy price: $15,000 in legal fees, nearly double what had been taken from him.

This past August, more than four years later, a federal appeals court finally ruled that the government must pay Moore’s legal costs.

“I felt a little bit of justice, finally,” Moore said.

The Bigger Picture

Moore’s ordeal shines a harsh light on civil asset forfeiture — a practice that allows authorities to seize property they believe is connected to crime, often without filing charges.

Critics argue it’s been twisted into a profit-driven system. Agencies that confiscate property can often keep the proceeds, creating powerful incentives to seize first and justify later. The American Civil Liberties Union calls the practice a “bottom-line booster,” not just a crime-fighting tool.

The risks are not abstract. In South Carolina, an 80-year-old woman nearly lost her home in 2014 after relatives were accused of selling drugs in her yard. She fought back and won — but bankruptcy followed.

What To Do If It Happens to You

Experts say anyone caught in Moore’s position should act quickly:

• Hire a lawyer immediately. Civil forfeiture law is complex, and strict deadlines can kill your case before it starts.

• Gather evidence. Receipts, records, and witnesses who can verify the money’s source are critical.

• Challenge the process. If the government can’t prove proper seizure protocol, a judge may throw it out.

Still, as University of Pennsylvania law professor Louis Rulli put it: “Just because you haven’t done anything wrong does not mean you’re safe from civil forfeiture — and it’s very costly and very difficult to fight the government.”

For Moore, the fight stretched years. For many others, the cost of justice is simply too high.