Nevada’s asset forfeitures again in public spotlight
Body-cam screen grab from an NHP body cam.Body camera screen grab from an NHP body camera.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich in January said $8.6 million was seized in Nevada last year.
“Throughout 2020, we continued to expand our coordination with law enforcement agencies and other collection partners, and we’re honored to be able to contribute these funds for (among other things) victim compensation and victim assistance,” he said.
Seizure of cash and assets primarily stems from criminal drug activities. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office reported it seized $3.9 million in 2020 from alleged drug operations.
But innocent people, or people proven innocent after being charged with crimes, and even serving prison sentences, report extreme difficulty in getting back their property.
The Nevada Supreme Court dismissed a case against Robert Coache, a former state water official, for lack of evidence in 2019. Coache faced more than 40 charges levied by the Clark County District Attorney. He said it took him more than a year to get back his property and assets from the DA.
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