After Having His Motel Seized by the Government, Victim of Civil Asset Forfeiture Reflects on His Fight. Like our favorite bumper sticker says: Don’t steal, the government hates competition.
And when Caswell filed a lawsuit challenging the seizure, a DEA agent confirmed his suspicions.
During depositions, Special Agent Vincent Kelly told lawyers that he was tasked with finding properties to be forfeited. Often times, he said, the agency wouldn’t go after a property unless an owner had more than $50,000 worth of equity.
Motel Caswell was worth $2 million.
