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New York State Asset Forfeiture Lawyers
Under the New York state asset forfeiture law district attorneys are allowed to forfeit any ill-gotten gains and instrumentalities of a crime. However, New York prosecutors are not allowed to forfeit real property, unless it involves specific drug cases. This means that they cannot under any circumstance take your home. That doesn’t mean they won’t try, but chances are unlikely, they won’t succeed. There are certain asset forfeiture laws that prevent them from doing it, and you better believe your criminal defense attorney will exploit this law to the fullest. Often times people haven’t a clue about their rights regarding asset forfeiture. If you are in the position having your assets seized, you should call a New York state defense attorney as soon as possible.
The term ill-gotten gains covers a variety of items. This can be land, jewelry, electronics, clothing, bank accounts and even stocks. As the law stands right now, other than certain drug and organized crime cases, there is no mechanism of criminal forfeiture under New York state law. The New York State Penal Law Article 480 is the main criminal forfeiture law. The law also applies to Penal Law Article, which covers felony convictions for conspiracy and solicitation. However, unlike Article 13-A, Article 480 requires a much hire standard of proof. Only an experienced New York attorney with experience in asset forfeiture can give you the proper guidance concerning these issues.
The main criminal statute that defines corruption is the New York Organized Crime Control Act of 1986 (OCCA). The OCCA uses Article 13-A for criminal and civil forfeiture. Under this act, prosecutors must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court is given the discretion to set aside jury findings and substitute it’s own. The court also has the power to set aside a jury verdict as it sees fit.
In criminal forfeiture schemes, prosecutors are required to submit evidence to a grand jury that shows reasonable cause that the property should be forfeited. The grand jury must make the ultimate decision. The final point under the criminal forfeiture scheme states that the prosecutor may be ordered by the court to release discovery evidence as related to the case. But for whatever reasons, most prosecutors around the state of New York rarely use these statutes. However, if the crime reaches the level of a felony, district attorneys will use the statutes. They will ask the federal government adopt the seizures.
As most lay persons can see, the New York state asset forfeiture laws are very complex and confusing. The only way to get a real understanding is by contacting an attorney with years of experience in these matters. There are a number of highly-knowledgeable asset forfeiture attorneys in the Bronx, Manhattan and other areas of New York.
The laws can fall under a misdemeanor or felony. The main point to remember under the New York state asset forfeiture laws is that they are not cut and dry. In many cases, prosecutors attempting to seize someone’s property may be far easier said than done. There must be proof that the gains were not only ill-gotten but there has to be a direct link to criminal activity. Individuals who get arrested for crimes and face property forfeiture under the New York state laws need to find the best lawyer possible.
These lawyers have successfully defended many people and kept them from getting their property seized. In a number of these cases, the prosecutors were unable to establish reasonable doubt. There are other cases where the court stepped in and set aside jury findings. Individuals facing the possibility of asset seizure should find out everything they need to know about the law.
Your New York State asset forfeiture lawyer will help you explore your options. Having your property seized is one of the worst things that can happen, especially if you feel you are innocent. Your attorney will do use every legal remedy possible to ensure you are able to keep your asset in tact. Don’t delay. Call a defense attorney who specializes in asset seizure law. Most attorneys offer free consultations. They will also give you an honest assessment of what you should expect when you go to trial.
New York State Asset Forfeiture
The state of New York is one of the largest jurisdictions in the country. As such, many thousands of cases are heard in this district in this community each year. Certain laws only apply to this area. If you facing the possibility of New York state asset forfeiture, it helps to know what laws may be applicable in this district and may impact your case. Keep in mind that the state’s attorneys can take what are known as the proceeds of crime under certain laws. These instrumentalities of crime are often a part of the process of being charged with a crime. At the same time, while it is possible for the prosecutors to take such assets, they are limited in what they can actually do. For example, the state’s prosecutors can’t take your real estate or what is known as “real property” except for specific drug related crimes. In nearly all instances, they can’t evict you from your home. If they want to pursue this avenue of pursuit, it can be very hard for them to carry it off. At the same time, it is imperative to have the best possible legal counsel at your side for assistance.
The Idea of Proceeds
Proceeds is a formal legal term all those facing this issue should understand. Proceeds are gains from what the law considered to be a crime. This includes many different kinds of holdings from a back account to any kind of personal property that you own. The state of New York may decide to take your jewelry, the land you own, stocks, your car and even the clothing you have in your closet. Under New York state laws, the government can also take items that have results from the decision to facilitate any kind of criminal activity. If something you own makes it easier for someone else to commit a crime, the government can consider that proceeds and take it from you.
New York Penal Law Article 480
All those who are facing this issue in New York state should be aware of the laws that apply to them personally. New York Penal Law Article 480 applies to all those who have been convicted of certain felonies. This article means that all such forfeitures must meet certain standards before they can be carried out. The same is true of what is known as the Organized Crime Control Act of 1986. Under both laws, the prosecution must be able to prove the case beyond the reasonable doubt standard. The court can set aide the determination of a grand jury and act independently as it sees fit. These are complicated laws that benefit from having someone at your side to sort them out and get the verdict you want. Keep in mind, these laws cannot be applied to you if you are facing a minor conviction such as a misdemeanor. In that case, the judge and court cannot seize many forms of your assets at all.
Plea Offer
A prosecutor may agree to demand that you forfeit certain assets as part of your plea agreement when facing many different types of charges including drug charges. This is perfectly legal and occasionally a standard part of the plea process. At the same time, it can be quite cumbersome for local law enforcement officials to follow this law. This is why so many judges and prosecutors may choose to avoid these procedures in the first place. However, this plea is also subject to certain laws in New York state that all prosecutors need to follow. In general, there is no right to have criminal forfeiture. In that case, the prosecutor prosecuting the case must be willing to file a separate civil lawsuit. This can applied to criminal defendants in New York state who are not taking a plea. In New York state, unlike the federal courts, you cannot be asked to forfeit your assets like your real property if you are facing any form of what are known as non-drug-related legal felony offenses.
Keep in mind that the prosecutors in the state often have a large docket. As such, there can be little motivation to use what are essentially scarce resources on the filing of what is essentially a civil matter. While this is true, it is also true that prosecutors do choose to pursue this area of law. IF they do so in your case, it is important to have legal counsel on your side in New York. The bar for proof is high but it is not impossible to meet. Having skilled legal counsel at your side has many benefits as this process continues. It enables you to reduce the risk of such attempts in the first place and protects your existing fiscal assets.