Federal Government to Return $107,702 Seized From North Carolina Convenience Store Owner

After months of sleepless nights since having more than $107,700 seized by the Internal Revenue Service, L&M Convenience Mart owner Lyndon McLellan learned yesterday the government decided to dismiss the case that lost him his money.

“It’s a relief to know that you’re getting something back that’s yours to start with,” McLellan told The Daily Signal. “I wanted [the government] to do what was right, and I felt what was right was for me to get my money back.”

According to documents filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina yesterday, U.S. Attorney Thomas Walker cited changes to the Department of Justice’s policy regarding civil asset forfeiture made in March as the reason for dropping the lawsuit against the $107,702.66 seized from McLellan’s bank account in July.

“We’re thrilled that the government has recognized that what they were doing to Lyndon was wrong and that they’ve dropped the attempt to forfeit Lyndon’s money,” Robert Johnson, a lawyer at the Institute for Justice who represents McLellan, told The Daily Signal. “This case was a mistake and unconstitutional from the start, and we’re just glad the government has recognized that.”

However, Johnson said it could be months before the government returns the money.

Federal Government to return money seized from North Carolina Convenience store owner.