Forfeiture
Victims
Need
Help
5/15/98
David Hanson was arrested May 9, 1993 for a first-time, low- level marijuana offense for which he spent 17 months in federal prison. Additionally, the state of Minnesota seized $40,000 from the bank account belonging to him and his wife, Rose, and the federal government seized their home. Rose and David Hanson are the Minnesota coordinators for the organization Forfeiture Endangers American Rights (FEAR). They have been fighting to keep their house, but their appeals were denied by the 8th Circuit Court. The government has agreed to accept $30,000 from the Hansons as a settlement. The Hansons are retirees living on social security, so to pay the $30,000, they applied for a reverse mortgage, under which the lender will pay the government, in exchange for ownership of the home, and the Hansons will be able to live there for the rest of their lives. The Hanson's reverse mortgage was approved, but in the meantime, interest rates increased by 1.1 percent, causing a $2,200 shortfall in the proceeds. The government attorney has adamantly refused to settle for less than $30,000. The Hansons have not asked for help, but fellow anti- forfeiture activists have issued an appeal for funds to help them make up the shortfall and keep their home. If interest rates drop again and the funds are not needed, they have promised to return all checks uncashed. We at DRCNet know the Hansons and feel confident that the appeal is legitimate. To help the Hansons, please mail checks to: David and Rose HansonWe have just posted the first document in our asset forfeiture Topics in Depth section -- An Epidemic of Abuses of Federal Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws, by Rachel King, the new crime lobbyist at the ACLU's DC National Office. Check it out at http://www.drcnet.org/forfeiture/epidemic.html. A few important, relevant books are listed at the end of the article -- follow the links to buy them from amazon.com, and DRCNet will earn a percentage of your purchase! Also, please visit FEAR's current legislative alert at http://www.fear.org/980417a.html and take action!
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