A California couple found themselves embroiled in a legal battle with the state of Indiana despite never having set foot there after law enforcement seized their property under civil asset forfeiture.
Henry and Minh Cheng, who have been in the wholesale jewelry business for over three decades, are fighting in an Indiana court to get their property back. The ordeal began in early 2024 when they made a bulk sale to a retailer in Virginia, according to a press release from the Institute for Justice.
The customer agreed to pay for the merchandise in cash, which was shipped to the Chengs through FedEx. A police officer seized the cash after it was intercepted at the Indianapolis FedEx hub, which led to a civil forfeiture action by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. The prosecutor’s office alleged that the cash was connected to criminal activity despite failing to specify any…
