Nationwide — Brian Moore Jr., an African American man from Atlanta, Georgia, who lost thousands of dollars to the DEA at the airport, has won a federal appeals case that ordered the government to return his seized cash and repay his legal fees after a long fight.
In March 2021, Moore was on his way to Los Angeles to film a music video when federal agents stopped him at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He carried more than $8,000 in cash, which agents seized after saying he looked suspicious.
At the time, Moore had dyed hair, which agents cited as part of their suspicion. Despite that, he had not committed a crime, and no charges were ever filed. Yet, through civil forfeiture, his money was taken without proof of wrongdoing.
Determined to fight back, Moore hired an attorney and successfully reclaimed his cash. However, the process left him with more than $15,000 in legal expenses. Last week, the appeals court ruled the DEA must cover those costs as well.
The decision gave Moore some closure. “I felt a little bit of justice finally,” he told WSB-TV.
Earlier this year, the DEA suspended the airport cash seizure program used against Moore. However, other federal and local law enforcement agencies continue to use civil forfeiture to take money from travelers without charging them with crimes. Critics argue the system allows law enforcement to profit from seized funds.
Dan Alban, an attorney with the Institute for Justice who led Moore’s appeal, said the practice gives agencies strong incentives to take people’s cash. He stressed that reforms are needed to stop abuse of forfeiture laws.
Reform advocates say change is needed at both the state and federal levels to prevent similar abuses. The DEA has not yet responded to requests for comment.