When Brian Moore Jr. flew out of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in 2021, he never imagined the trip would cost him thousands of dollars — and years in court.
Moore, who was heading to Los Angeles to film a music video, said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers stopped him because he “looked suspicious.” At the time, his hair was dyed green and he was carrying over $8,000 in cash.
“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. “I hadn’t done anything wrong.”
Moore was never charged with a crime, but the DEA kept his cash anyway under a controversial law called civil forfeiture. He spent about $15,000 in legal fees fighting to get it back — nearly double what was taken from him.
Finally, in August 2025, a federal appeals court ruled that the government had to pay his legal fees too.
“I felt a little bit of justice, finally,” Moore said.
The DEA did not respond to Channel 2’s request for comment.
What Is Civil Forfeiture?
Under civil forfeiture laws, police or federal agents can seize property they believe is connected to a crime — including money, vehicles, phones, or even homes — without charging the owner with any offense.
As Cornell University explains, once property is seized, “the burden of proof often shifts to the owner to prove it was not involved in or derived from criminal activity.”
Critics like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argue that civil forfeiture was originally meant to dismantle drug cartels and large criminal organizations. Today, however, they say it often serves as a profit incentive for law enforcement, since agencies can keep or share in the proceeds from seized assets.
In some cases, the financial toll on innocent people is devastating.
When Fighting Back Costs More Than What’s Lost
Moore’s case is far from unique. The legal process to challenge a seizure is often long, complicated, and expensive. Many people simply give up because the cost of fighting back exceeds the value of what was taken.
One striking example came in South Carolina, where an 80-year-old woman nearly lost her home in 2014 because relatives were accused of selling drugs in her yard. She had nothing to do with the alleged activity, but it took two years — and her life savings — to win her case.
“Just because you haven’t done anything wrong does not mean you’re safe from civil forfeiture,” said Louis Rulli, a University of Pennsylvania law professor. “It’s very costly and very difficult to fight the government.”
What To Do If It Happens to You
If your property is seized under civil forfeiture, act fast:
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Hire a lawyer immediately. An attorney can help you meet filing deadlines and make sure seizure procedures were followed correctly.
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Gather documentation. Collect receipts, bank statements, or other records proving where your money or property came from.
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Find witnesses. Statements from people who can verify your story strengthen your case.
While Moore ultimately got justice, his ordeal underscores a harsh truth about civil forfeiture: winning can take years — and even victory comes at a price.
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