LaGuardia Airport Money Cash Seizure Lawyers

Fighting to Get Your Money Back: What to Do If You Have Cash Seized at LaGuardia Airport

Having your cash seized at an airport can be an incredibly stressful and frustrating experience. Unfortunately, it happens more often than many travelers realize – especially at busy international airports like LaGuardia in New York City.If you’ve had money taken from you by law enforcement at LaGuardia, don’t panic. There are things you can do to get your cash back. The most important step is to contact an experienced attorney who specializes in these types of cases.

Why Does Cash Get Seized at Airports?

Before we dive into the details of how to recover seized money, let’s first understand why cash seizures happen in airports.According to federal law, it’s not illegal to fly domestically with any amount of cash. You can carry as much or as little as you want when traveling within the US. However, if law enforcement believes your cash is tied to criminal activity, they can seize it through a process called civil asset forfeiture.This means officers don’t need to charge you with a crime to take your money. They only need to show there’s a suspicion the cash is linked to illegal activity. And that suspicion can be as simple as a dog sniffing out the money or you exhibiting nervous behavior when questioned.So while carrying cash itself isn’t illegal, having it taken is still a very real possibility – especially if you’re traveling with large sums of $5,000 or more.

When Do You Need to Declare Cash at Airports?

One common misconception is that you must declare any amount over $10,000 when flying domestically. This is not true. The declaration requirement only applies when traveling internationally in or out of the US.If you’re leaving or entering the country and carrying more than $10,000 in total, you must complete a form declaring it. This applies to cash, money orders, travelers checks, or any other monetary instruments that add up to more than $10,000.Failure to declare can result in the seizure of your money by Customs, significant fines, and even criminal charges.But again, you do not have to declare cash when traveling from one US city to another – even if you’re carrying large sums.

Steps to Recover Seized Cash at LaGuardia

If your money has already been taken, here are the key steps to get it back:

1. Contact an experienced attorney immediately

Don’t delay in finding legal representation. There are strict deadlines for responding to notices of seizure.You’ll need an attorney who specializes in civil asset forfeiture defense. Specifically, look for someone with extensive experience dealing with airport cash seizures.The attorney can send responses to notices, file claims, and build the strongest case possible to recover your money. This is not something you’ll want to navigate on your own.

2. Gather documentation

Your attorney will ask for supporting documentation to prove where the cash came from and why you had it.Examples of helpful evidence include:

DEFENSE TEAM SPOTLIGHT

Todd Spodek

Lead Attorney & Founder

Featured on Netflix's "Inventing Anna," Todd Spodek brings decades of high-stakes criminal defense experience. His aggressive approach has secured dismissals and acquittals in cases others deemed unwinnable.

NY Bar Admitted Multi-State Licensed Federal Courts

Meet the Full Team

Legal Scenario: What Would You Do?

Scenario

You are flying out of LaGuardia Airport for a family vacation when TSA flags your carry-on bag during screening. Officers from Homeland Security Investigations pull you aside and inform you they are seizing the $14,500 in cash you were carrying, claiming it is connected to illegal activity despite you having no criminal record.

Can the government really take my cash at the airport without charging me with a crime, and how do I get it back?

Attorney's Answer

Yes, under federal civil asset forfeiture laws, agencies like CBP and HSI can seize cash at airports if they suspect it is connected to illegal activity — even without filing criminal charges against you. However, you have important rights under the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA) of 2000, which requires the government to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the money is connected to a crime. You must act quickly: once you receive a seizure notice, you typically have 35 days to file a claim contesting the forfeiture with the seizing agency and request a federal court hearing. An experienced forfeiture attorney can challenge the seizure by demonstrating a legitimate source for the funds and arguing that law enforcement lacked probable cause under the Fourth Amendment.

This is general information only. Contact us for advice specific to your situation.

• Bank statements showing withdrawals
• Pay stubs or tax returns if it was savings from work
• Business records if it was commercial money
• Casino records if you won it gambling
• Receipts showing recent purchases like a car or property

The more documentation you have, the better. It provides critical evidence the money was obtained legally.

3. Explain what happened during the seizure