Image Credit: Institute for Justice
The federal government has finally returned $8,000 to Cristal Starling, a Rochester woman whose funds were seized during a raid in 2020 as part of a drug investigation involving her former boyfriend.
Following a lengthy court battle, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) returned the money on Jan. 23 after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled in Starling’s favor last August.
Starling, who operated a successful mobile food cart business at the time of the seizure, expressed relief at the return of her funds, emphasizing the importance of understanding one’s rights in such situations.
She had been determined to reclaim her money without legal representation and navigated administrative procedures to file a claim with the DEA.
The seizure occurred when Rochester police raided Starling’s apartment in October 2020, alleging her boyfriend’s involvement in drug-related activities.
However, no drugs were found during the raid, and the boyfriend was later acquitted by a jury.