Forfeiture is Big Business-- For Federal Prosecutors

The forfeiture of Eric Prokopi's Bataar display piece has helped prompt the the New York Times to examine how forfeiture has become big business for federal prosecutors in New York.  I've found the federal attorneys who handled the Bataar forfeiture case to be quite professional and obviously good lawyers.  On the other hand,  I have to agree with critics that the system can be quite arbitrary, even going so far as to allow the government to hobble any defense by seizing as possible proceeds of the crime all of the defendant's assets.