The Federal (and local) Government can seize property from owners if it was suspected to be related to a crime, then sell it and reap the profits for themselves. The owners don't have to be convicted or even CHARGED with a crime.
The Institute for Justice Challenges "Policing for Profit" in Massachusetts
The Institute for Justice Challenges "Policing for Profit" in Massachusetts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcQlF-zDEL0Russ and his family have owned and operated the Motel Caswell in Tewksbury, Mass., for two generations. The motel, which Russ’ father built and the Caswells own free and clear, was supposed to provide for Russ and his wife’s retirement. But now, the Caswells may have their million-dollar property taken from them by local and federal law enforcement officials through a process known as “civil forfeiture.” If law enforcement officials succeed, the Caswells would end up with nothing and the law enforcement agencies would split the bounty through a process called “equitable sharing” in which the local agency would get 80 percent of the proceeds and the federal government would keep the rest. This money could be used to pad the budgets of police and prosecutors’ offices, thus giving it a direct financial incentive not to pursue justice, but rather to “police for profit,” which is exactly was is going on in the Caswell case.