Retired Marine Stephen Lara’s real-life ordeal mirrors the plot of the Netflix hit movie “Rebel Ridge,” as he was pulled over by the Nevada Highway Patrol on a routine trip and had his life savings of $86,900 in cash seized, despite no criminal charges being filed against him. The officers sent the money to the DEA for potential civil forfeiture, a process that allows law enforcement agencies to seize assets suspected of being connected to a crime. Lara’s money was eventually returned after a legal battle led by the Institute for Justice, a libertarian law firm that fights government abuses.
The civil forfeiture program allows state and local law enforcement agencies to seize assets and hand them over to federal agencies, such as the DEA, for handling the legal proceedings. In Lara’s case, the NHP stood to receive a kickback of $69,520 if the money was forfeited. The process, known as “equitable sharing,” has come under scrutiny for creating an incentive for law enforcement agencies to seize property even without evidence of a crime. Former Attorney General Eric Holder’s restrictions on civil forfeiture cases were reversed in 2017, leading to $334 million in adoption payments to state and local law enforcement agencies in 2019.
Lara’s ongoing lawsuit against the Nevada Highway Patrol challenges the state’s participation in the federal civil forfeiture program, arguing that it violates the state constitution’s protection of property rights. The case has already won a preliminary round in court, setting a potential precedent that could inspire legal challenges in other states. Despite some states instituting reforms and a few abolishing civil forfeiture altogether, the system remains difficult for individuals targeted by asset seizures to fight back.
Lara’s ordeal has had a significant impact on his life, causing delays in his plans to buy a house near his daughters and leading him to move to Chico, California where his ex-wife and daughters now live. The experience has highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in civil forfeiture laws, as individuals like Lara face challenges in reclaiming their seized assets. The case serves as a reminder of the real-life consequences of government abuses of power and the importance of defending property rights.
