Mandrel Stuart News Today

This case could have life-changing consequences for people caught up in the legal system who haven’t actually been convicted, or even accused, of a crime.

Mandrel Stuart used to be a small-business owner. Unfortunately, he had to close down his Staunton, Virginia restaurant, the Smoking Rooster. Not because of poor sales or harsh food critics, but because one day in 2012, Fairfax police officers turned a routine traffic stop into a chance to seize $17,550 of Mr. Stuart’s hard-earned money. How? Civil asset-forfeiture laws.