Representative Matters

The following examples are representative of the matters handled by Raskin & Raskin in various subject areas: 

Aviation Industry

In recent years, federal and state prosecutors have placed great emphasis on offenses affecting flight safety. Criminal investigations have taken place – and charges have been filed – against airlines, aviation repair facilities, manufacturers and distributers of aircraft parts, as well as corporate executives and employees throughout the aviation industry. Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys have extensive experience handling aviation related criminal matters, both during the course of an investigation and at trial.

• Raskin & Raskin successfully defended SabreTech, Inc., an aircraft maintenance company charged with various federal and state crimes arising out of the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in the Florida Everglades. The firm’s representation spanned seven years and encompassed a host of parallel proceedings including a three-year federal grand jury investigation, indictment, trial and appeal, a state homicide investigation and indictment, and various administrative investigations and proceedings by the FAA, the EPA, the NTSB and the United States Congress. The federal trial resulted in acquittals on a majority of the charges. The remaining charges, save one, were reversed on appeal, and the $9 million restitution ordered by the district court was vacated. The state criminal case was resolved through a negotiated agreement that resulted in the dismissal of all 220 counts of homicide, a no-contest plea to a regulatory offense and a voluntary charitable contribution by SabreTech’s parent corporation.
  
  
• Raskin & Raskin successfully defended a federal grand jury investigation into the business practices of a security company that provided passenger screening services to major airlines at airports throughout the United States. The allegations were that the company routinely placed fraudulent background and training information in employee personnel files, thus allowing unqualified and ineligible individuals to work as airport screeners. A review of voluminous documents seized during execution of a search warrant and subsequently produced pursuant to a grand jury subpoena in fact revealed numerous discrepancies in the personnel files. Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers conducted an internal investigation into the company's practices and developed a presentation which convinced prosecutors that the discrepancies in the files were unintentional. No charges were filed against the company or any individuals. Raskin & Raskin’s internal investigation also provided the basis for a compliance plan designed to ensure that the company’s records going forward would be complete and accurate.
  
  
• Raskin & Raskin successfully defended a Miami-based charter airline in an unapproved parts investigation conducted by the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General. The parts in question had been obtained from aircraft recently returned to the airline from a foreign carrier to which they had been leased. The government contended that the airline had violated the federal false statement statute when it certified to the FAA that the parts from these aircraft conformed to its requirements. After supervising the production and inspection of tens of thousands of documents and aircraft parts, Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys argued that the government’s theory of criminal liability was flawed and that, if charged, its client’s defenses would be substantial. No charges were ever brought against Raskin & Raskin’s client or any of its employees.  

• Raskin & Raskin represented a helicopter parts manufacturer under investigation for selling military parts to Iran in violation of Defense and Commerce Department regulations. A search warrant was executed against the client’s facility and grand jury subpoenas served. Others in the same investigation were prosecuted, convicted and received prison terms. Although Raskin & Raskin’s client was a main target of the government’s investigation, after lengthy negotiations with prosecutors and the presentation of a written submission, the government ultimately declined prosecution of Raskin & Raskin’s client.

• Raskin & Raskin currently represents aviation repair stations and aviation parts distributors in criminal investigations ranging from falsely certifying repair of aircraft parts to providing military parts to embargoed nations.  

Food and Drug

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is enforced through criminal prosecution, injunction proceedings, civil money penalties, and a variety of administrative actions. Raskin & Raskin has significant experience representing corporations and individuals both in the courtroom and in helping avoid the courtroom altogether through effective early intervention to prevent inappropriate or unnecessary enforcement actions

• Raskin & Raskin represented the Executive Vice President of Cordis Corporation, a medical device manufacturing firm which produced pacemakers. Since many of the company’s pacemakers had failed, the company and several of its employees were charged with, among other things, causing the unlawful transportation of medical devices in interstate commerce in violation of Food and Drug laws. Following a lengthy federal trial, Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys convinced the trial court to dismiss all of the felony counts against its client. The jury subsequently acquitted Raskin & Raskin’s client of all of the remaining misdemeanor charges.  

• Raskin & Raskin represented a medical supply firm whose warehouse was raided by FBI and FDA agents who seized millions of dollars of medical and surgical products which they claimed were stolen, misbranded and adulterated. The corporation and its principals were identified as targets of a grand jury investigation into the interstate transportation of stolen property and violations of FDA statutes. Following numerous face to face negotiation sessions with federal prosecutors, followed by a lengthy written presentation, the government accepted Raskin & Raskin’s legal position that its client lacked the requisite intent to commit a crime. No charges were ever brought against Raskin & Raskin’s client or its principals.  

• Raskin & Raskin represented a nationally prominent physician and medical researcher implicated in a sceme to develop and market a non-FDA approved Botox-like product. The case was an outgrowth of an incident in which four people were paralyzed after being injected with raw botulinum toxin. A federal grand jury returned a lengthy indictment charging Raskin & Raskin’s client, along with others, with conspiracy to defraud the United States, mail and wire fraud, and various FDA violations involving misbranded drugs. Following lengthy pre-trial proceedings, all of the other defendants pled guilty and were sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Raskin & Raskin’s client’s position was further complicated because he was a Canadian citizen and, in addition to prison exposure, would face deportation in the event of almost any felony conviction. Following the selection of a jury, Raskin & Raskin's attorneys were successful in negotiating a disposition for their client which resulted in neither incarceration nor deportation.

• Recently, the Department of Justice, along with the FDA, DEA and Customs, has instituted criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions against online sellers of drugs and other pharmaceutical products. These cases involve, among other things, the sale, distribution or importation of adulterated, misbranded or unapproved drugs; the illegal promotion of drugs; the sale or dispensing of prescription drugs without a valid prescription; and the sale of counterfeit drugs. Raskin & Raskin has experience representing corporations and individuals in internet pharmacy matters and related parallel proceedings. For example, Raskin & Raskin represented a lead defendant in a 313-count federal indictment charging the illegal online sale of prescription drugs. According to the indictment, the operation handled more than 1 million online orders and grossed approximately $126 million over a two-year period.

Healthcare

Health care fraud and abuse is a major law enforcement priority of the U.S. Department of Justice. In fact, task forces dedicated to that effort have been set up in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and elsewhere. Raskin & Raskin has experience defending health care providers and their executives in federal and state criminal investigations and prosecutions.

• Raskin & Raskin represented a number of psychiatric hospitals and one of their principals in a federal Medicare investigation into a multi-million dollar patient referral kickback scheme. As a result of both litigation and negotiation, Raskin & Raskin eventually persuaded the government not to bring charges against the corporate entities and to accept a plea to a reduced charge – not resulting in incarceration – from the principal. At the same time, Raskin & Raskin settled all of its clients’ civil liability resulting from the investigation.

• Raskin & Raskin represented the owner of a management company providing services to a Medicare funded Community Mental Health Center. The government announced that Raskin & Raskin’s client faced immanent indictment for an alleged violation of Medicare’s "related party" rules. Following several face-to-face meetings with the prosecutors, followed by a written presentation, Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers convinced the U.S. Attorney’s Office to completely reverse its course. Not only did the U.S. Attorney’s Office decline to prosecute Raskin & Raskin’s client, but it also declined to pursue available civil collection remedies.

• Raskin & Raskin has represented numerous doctors in health care fraud investigations and prosecutions by federal and state criminal and regulatory authorities. In the majority of these matters, Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers were successful in persuading the authorities that criminal and/or administrative charges were inappropriate. 

Mortgage Fraud

• Raskin & Raskin represents two principals of a real estate development venture involved in allegations of widespread fraud in connection with the marketing, sale and financing of several large condominium projects on Florida’s east and west coasts.

As a result of numerous corporate scandals and the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, securities law violations are being prosecuted more vigorously than ever, whether in the administrative, civil or criminal context. Raskin & Raskin’s practice covers the full range of securities fraud investigations, including those conducted by federal grand juries, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, state securities regulators and self-regulatory organizations such as the NYSE and NASD. Raskin & Raskin has represented clients in investigations and prosecutions involving, among other things, insider trading, financial reporting irregularities and false public filings. Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys have enjoyed considerable success in convincing government officials not to institute enforcement actions against their clients. Raskin & Raskin has also assisted its clients in settling cases on a favorable basis.

• Raskin & Raskin represented the chairman of the board of a large publicly traded banking institution in an SEC probe of the sale of his stock just prior to his bank’s failure. Since the SEC believed that the bank’s imminent demise was evident to insiders at the time of the sale, it suspected that Raskin & Raskin’s client was guilty of insider trading. Following lengthy negotiations and written and oral presentations by Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers, the SEC accepted its position that its client had not acted improperly in the sale of his shares. Consequently, the SEC declined to institute an administrative proceeding.

• Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers are experienced in handling the multiple, parallel proceedings which frequently arise in the securities fraud arena.  For example, Raskin & Raskin defended the Chairman and CEO of a public telecommunications company who was alleged to have procured and defrauded individual and institutional investors through false and misleading press releases. The client simultaneously faced an SEC enforcement investigation, a federal grand jury investigation, and four separate shareholder’s suits in multiple jurisdictions seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages.  The SEC enforcement action was closed with no action having been taken, the grand jury investigation produced no charges against the client, and the shareholder suits were globally settled within the limits of the D & O insurance policy. 

• Raskin & Raskin's lawyers defended a publicly traded investment firm and members of its control group in parallel securities fraud proceedings brought by the SEC,  the Department of Justice, and defrauded investors in a class action lawsuit.   The allegations involved the issuance by the corporation of a series of false press releases.  As in all matters involving parallel proceedings, Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers balanced the competing interests of the various actions in providing successful representation to their clients.

• Raskin & Raskin's lawyers defended the former CEO of a publicly traded telecommunications corporation against securities fraud charges brought by class counsel for defrauded investors. The complaint alleged numerous false and misleading statements by Raskin & Raskin’s client in company press releases, as well as in radio and Internet promotions. After months of negotiations, Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers persuaded class counsel to dismiss the case against their client.  

• Raskin & Raskin’s client entered a plea of guilty in a major securities fraud case in New York. According to the government, the investing public lost millions of dollars as a result of the activities of Raskin & Raskin’s client and restitution was mandatory. At sentencing, Raskin & Raskin argued that the alleged victims of the crime were not entitled to restitution and that, even if they were, the government’s restitution calculations were fatally flawed. Over Raskin & Raskin’s objection, the court sentenced its client to pay millions of dollars to the alleged victims. Raskin & Raskin appealed the sentence to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals which, after considering the parties’ briefs and oral argument, rendered a 164 page decision holding that Raskin & Raskin’s original legal position was correct and that its client's entire restitution obligation must be discharged.

Representation of Professionals

Raskin & Raskin has experience representing lawyers, law firms, hospitals, doctors, accountants, investment advisors, brokers and other professionals facing criminal investigation and prosecution, as well as parallel proceedings before professional certification, oversight and licensing boards. Because of the potential for adverse licencing consequences, these cases present unique and significant issues and require careful, strategic handling by counsel experienced in such matters.

• Raskin & Raskin represented an attorney who was under investigation for tax evasion stemming from a legal fee he had received. His client, who had later become a government witness, alleged that the lawyer structured the fee in a manner that allowed him to take the fee without the payment of taxes. Although the payment was indeed received tax free, Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys, through negotiations with the prosecutors and IRS agents and a detailed written presentation, convinced the government not to file charges against the lawyer.
  
  
• Raskin & Raskin represented a prominent lawyer who was under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice based on a multi-million dollar fee he had received. A government witness had alleged that the lawyer was part of a large conspiracy to obstruct justice. Although such a conspiracy was indeed found to exist, Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys were successful in establishing to the prosecutors that their client was not a knowing participant. Although criminal charges were filed in the case, no charges were filed against Raskin & Raskin’s client.

Raskin & Raskin has significant experience in all aspects of export and import control law and regulation, having represented corporations and individuals in criminal and enforcement investigations arising under the Export Administration Regulations [EAR], the International Traffic in Arms Regulations [ITAR], the International Emergency Economic Powers Act [IEEPA] and the Trading with the Enemy Act, as well as other laws that effect export licensing decisions. Raskin & Raskin has also represented corporations and individuals under investigation and prosecution for violations of U.S. Customs regulations relating to imports and exports.

• Raskin & Raskin represented an export company and its president who were under investigation for having clandestinely shipped large quantities of commercial goods to Haiti in violation of the presidential embargo in place at the time. The company and its president were targets of the investigation. After lengthy negotiations with the prosecutors, the matter was resolved through a corporate guilty plea and modest fine. As part of the settlement agreement, neither the company’s president nor any of its other employees were charged.
  
  
• Raskin & Raskin represented a major exporter of food, cosmetics and cigarettes. The company and its president were under investigation in two federal districts for making false statements in matters within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In essence, the government contended that the company falsely represented that domestic products were being exported, when it knew that those products would remain and be sold in the United States. In addition, the government contended that the company’s false statements were relied upon by the Department of Agriculture in paying tax rebates to the domestic manufacturers. When Raskin & Raskin commenced its representation, several participants in the scheme had already been arrested and were cooperating with the government against Raskin & Raskin’s clients. Coordinating closely with the U.S. Attorneys in both districts throughout the course of the investigation, Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers ultimately convinced the government not to charge the corporation at all in either jurisdiction. Instead, an agreement was reached by which the company’s president pled guilty to a single minor charge in one district, resulting in a sentence of probation.
  
  
• Raskin & Raskin represented a leading manufacturer and distributor of security, surveillance and counter-surveillance equipment. The company’s employees were arrested by federal agents as they attempted to leave the United States for Colombia with illegal cellular interception equipment. The government gave notice that it intended promptly to file criminal export violation charges against the company and several of its employees. Raskin & Raskin first persuaded the government to forgo filing any charges pending a presentation of why such charges would be inappropriate. Following several face to face negotiation sessions with the prosecutors and a lengthy written presentation, the government accepted Raskin & Raskin’s legal position that no crime had been committed. No charges were brought against the company and the charges against its employees were dismissed.

• Raskin & Raskin’s client was arrested by federal agents while negotiating the sale of approximately $5 million worth of Pre-Colombian artifacts from Ecuador. According to the government, Raskin & Raskin’s client illegally brought the artifacts out of Ecuador in violation of its patrimony laws and, by doing so, violated U.S. Customs and stolen property laws. Raskin & Raskin first persuaded the government to refrain from returning an indictment pending a presentation of why charges would be inappropriate. Following several face to face negotiation sessions with the prosecutor and several written presentations, the government accepted Raskin & Raskin’s legal position that its client had committed no U.S. crime and, consequently, the government dismissed the charges against Raskin & Raskin’s client.

Environmental statutes today contain criminal sanctions, and corporate executives may be subject to criminal prosecution not only for contributing to pollution and other environmental hazards, but also for failing to report those hazards. Raskin & Raskin has represented clients in grand jury investigations and prosecutions of alleged environmental offenses, ranging from dumping of hazardous waste to negligent homicide. In addition to navigating clients through the criminal process, Raskin & Raskin has successfully defended clients against the threat of suspension and debarment from government procurement programs.  Raskin & Raskin is also experienced in handling environmental cases as diverse as those brought under the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act, the Lacey Act, the Endangered Species Act and laws protecting against the unlawful importation of Ozone-depleting substances such as Freon.

• Raskin & Raskin represented a company which distributed scrap metal to industrial firms throughout the United States. One load of metal provided by the client exploded when placed in a customer’s foundry, killing two workers. After the EPA and state law enforcement authorities found blasting caps, poison tubes and rocket flares in loads of metal which the client was providing, the investigators proceeded with a view toward prosecuting Raskin & Raskin’s client and its principals for homicide and environmental offenses. By working closely with the investigating agencies, Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys demonstrated that this was simply an unfortunate accident, not a crime. No charges were ever brought against Raskin & Raskin’s client or its employees.
  
  
• Over the years, Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers have represented numerous officers, directors and employees of cruise lines under investigation for environmental offenses such as the illegal dumping of oil and hazardous chemicals and the making of false statements to government agencies. Although the government has brought charges leading to convictions in some of these investigations, none of Raskin & Raskin’s clients has ever been charged with criminal misconduct.
  
  
• Raskin & Raskin has handled a number of cases involving the illegal discharge of hazardous waste in violation of federal and state clean air and water laws. In each case, Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers either convinced the prosecutors not to bring charges at all or, if charges were brought, were successful in negotiating favorable settlements for their clients.

• Raskin & Raskin represented the owners of two deep sea fishing fleets who were prosecuted for violations of the Lacey Act, which makes it a felony offense to knowingly import fish, knowing that the fish was taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any foreign law. In one case, the government alleges that Raskin & Raskin’s client imported into the United States thousands of pounds of spiny lobster and queen conch from the Bahamas in violation of Bahamian law. In the other case, Raskin & Raskin’s client is alleged to have imported thousands of pounds of Yellow Fin tuna in violation of Canadian law. 

The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has initiated numerous investigations and prosecutions of individuals and corporations for violations of the Sherman Act involving price fixing and bid rigging. Raskin & Raskin has experience representing corporations and executives in antitrust investigations.

• Raskin & Raskin represented an auctioneering firm suspected of antitrust and price fixing violations in connection with large estate and bankruptcy auctions. Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys negotiated with – and presented voluminous information to – the Justice Department prosecutors, who ultimately declined to file charges against Raskin & Raskin’s client or any of its employees.

• Raskin & Raskin represented the Chief Financial Officer of an international corporation under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Although several other officers and employees of the corporation were indicted for their roles in an alleged conspiracy to rig contract bids, fix prices and allocate market shares for sales of the Company's products in the United States and elsewhere, Raskin & Raskin was able to obtain an immunity and non-prosecution agreement for its client.

Raskin & Raskin has represented companies and their executives under investigation for defense procurement issues ranging from quality defects or product substitution to accounting irregularities. Raskin & Raskin also has experience negotiating with the Department of Defense to prevent their clients’ debarment or suspension.

• Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers represented the owners and directors of an aircraft parts manufacturing company under investigation for selling defective parts to the military. Although the company and some of its high level management were ultimately charged and convicted, Raskin & Raskin negotiated immunity agreements for its clients who were not prosecuted. Following the conviction, the corporation was debarred from doing further business with the military. After a written presentation by Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers, followed by a face to face meeting with military officials at the Pentagon, the debarment was set aside and the company was allowed to continue with its government contracts.

Representing public officials requires not only a complete knowledge of the law, but also an appreciation for a client’s reputation and approval rating. Over the years, Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers have represented numerous pubic officials in federal and state criminal investigations and prosecutions, as well as in congressional investigations and proceedings.  Raskin & Raskin’s clients have included judges, mayors, city councilmen, high ranking public and political figures, federal and state law enforcement authorities and professional athletes. The majority of these investigations ended with no charges being filed and, in many cases, with the investigations never becoming public. Raskin & Raskin also represented the Florida Republican Party in the Seminole and Martin County litigation over absentee ballots stemming from the 2000 presidential election. 

Search Warrants

Today, more than ever, the government is utilizing search warrants – rather than investigative subpoenas – to obtain records and materials in white collar criminal investigations. This gives the government not only the advantage of deciding for itself which materials it deems relevant and to seize materials plainly subject to privilege, but also allows government investigators to interview key corporate witnesses before they have had the opportunity to consult with counsel or otherwise prepare for the interview. Therefore, an immediate response by counsel to a search in progress is often the difference between maintaining the status quo and the government obtaining a distinct advantage. Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys have significant experience responding to searches in progress and negotiating with agents and prosecutors to limit any prejudice to their corporate clients and their employees.

• When FBI agents arrived at our corporate client’s business premises to execute a search warrant for documents, Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys immediately responded. After the FBI and supervising Assistant U.S. Attorney ignored Raskin & Raskin’s admonitions that many of the materials they wished to seize were covered by the attorney-client privilege, Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers rushed to federal court, where they successfully litigated an emergency motion for a protective order prohibiting the FBI from seizing the relevant materials. Because of Raskin & Raskin’s prompt response, the court’s protective order was rendered in time to prevent the sensitive documents from ever leaving the client’s premises.
  
  
• After law enforcement agents executed a search warrant on the offices of a national law firm seizing thousands of documents, Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys represented the firm in litigating the return of thousands of pages of privileged client documents. That litigation included numerous court hearings as well as special master proceedings. As a result of Raskin & Raskin’s efforts, no privileged documents were ever reviewed by the prosecution and they were all returned to the client law firm.

Criminal investigations sometimes result in parallel congressional investigations. Often, the political climate of a congressional hearing presents unique problems and dangers for those under investigation. For example, courtroom rules of evidence do not limit the scope of testimony, and because such investigations often include public hearings, clients may find themselves the subject of considerable media attention. In addition, the need for a strong public defense in congress may conflict with the most effective defense of the criminal matter. Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys have represented witnesses before both houses of congress and are experienced in balancing the competing interests to arrive at the best strategy for their clients.

Extradition is the most common tool among nations for the surrender of individuals accused or convicted of criminal activity who are now beyond the jurisdiction of the requesting country. The United States is a party to extradition treaties with most other nations in the world. Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers are experienced in extradition matters and have represented and counseled numerous clients on extradition issues over the years. Raskin & Raskin's lawyers are also experienced in dealing with both civil and criminal Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty requests and letters rogatory proceedings. 

• Extradition matters handled by Raskin & Raskin include an individual accused of perpetrating the largest fraud in Canada's history and an individual charged with perpetrating the largest bank fraud in Germany’s history. 

Grand Jury Investigations

Key to defending any criminal matter is responding to a grand jury investigation. Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys have represented numerous individuals and corporations who have been subjected to appearances or document productions before federal grand juries located throughout the United States. Raskin & Raskin’s practice in this area has involved negotiating immunity agreements with the United States Attorneys, as well as obtaining "queen for a day" letters to provide proffers concerning a witness' statement on various subjects. The practice has also included preparation of witnesses and identification of documents for presentment to the grand jury and motions practice to challenge or limit grand jury subpoenas. Throughout the grand jury process, Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys are always cognizant of the fact that their ultimate goal is to avoid both indictment and publicity.

Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys have represented corporations and individuals in connection with investigations of federal and state tax fraud and evasion. Such representations have included allegations of failure to report income, causing the preparation and filing of false tax returns, taking of unlawful deductions, and failure to disclose foreign bank accounts. Raskin & Raskin’s lawyers have also successfully navigated clients through the IRS voluntary disclosure program, resulting in the government’s agreement not to prosecute the clients for filing false tax returns and under-reporting income.

• Raskin &Raskin represents a former member of the board of directors of a large corporation which has been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with failing to pay approximately $200 million in federal withholding taxes.

The federal money laundering laws vastly expanded with the signing of the USA PATRIOT Act on October 26, 2001 by President Bush. U.S. financial institutions, including banks, investment companies and broker-dealers now have enhanced requirements that include, among other things, documenting the identification of beneficial owners and due diligence policies designed to detect money laundering. In application, the money laundering laws are no longer limited to organized crime and narcotics trafficking but prominently include investments and funds transfers arising from securities, defense procurement and health care frauds, federal false claim cases and institutional funds used or intended to be used in support of terrorism. Raskin & Raskin’s attorneys have significant experience representing corporations and individuals in connection with money laundering investigations and prosecutions and have lectured before professional organizations on this subject.  

Asset Forfeiture

Asset Forfeiture encompasses the seizure and forfeiture of assets that represent the proceeds of, or were used to facilitate, criminal offenses.  Forfeiture of assets has become a major tool in the government’s effort to hinder criminal activity.  Once used almost exclusively in narcotics and organized crime prosecutions, asset forfeiture is now used routinely in conjunction with even the most mundane criminal investigations and prosecutions. Raskin & Raskin is experienced in handling asset forfeiture matters and has successfully represented numerous banks, financial institutions, corporations and individuals in both criminal and administrative forfeiture proceedings.