TAKEN
Law enforcement agencies argue that civil asset forfeitures help fight the war on drugs by directly going for the money that funds large drug enterprises. However, the practice of civil forfeiture has led to widespread issues of every-day citizens having their money and property taken from them, even if they are never charged or convicted of a crime. This series of videos and photographs were produced as part of an investigation at the Greenville News examining the broken system of civil asset forfeitures in the state and how it has allowed agencies to take millions in cash from citizens.
Atlanta rapper lost thousands in civil forfeiture, but fought back and won
Johnnie Grant plays with his twin daughters, Alayna and Raynaon, and his son Yahya, 2 before heading to a music festival to perform in Atlanta June 30, 2018. Grant was headed to Charlotte for a performance when his rental car was pulled over in South Carolina and had $8000 seized by law enforcement. It took him a year in fighting the civil forfeiture in court before he got his money back.