The Government Stole the Ward Sisters' Money. Goldwater Got It Back.

Guilty until proven innocent. That’s how the government treated entrepreneurial sisters Vera and Apollonia Ward, stealing $17,000 of their hard-earned money even though they hadn’t done anything wrong. Attorneys who could help weren’t returning the Ward sisters’ calls—until the Goldwater Institute stepped in to serve up a dose of justice and get their money back. Unfortunately, Vera and Apollonia’s story is not unique. They are just two of many victims of civil asset forfeiture, which allows the government to take, keep, and profit from someone’s property without even charging them with a crime—much less convicting them of one. The Goldwater Institute is a national leader in fighting this inversion of our justice system—and standing up against government theft on behalf of innocent Americans like the Ward sisters.