Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Seizes Over $45 Million in Two Months Under New Deal
A contract with a former judge allows him to keep up to 35% of seized assets, sparking a lawsuit from local businesses.
By Meera Fletcher ·
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz authorized the seizure of more than $45 million in bank accounts and inventory within two months of signing a legal contract in July 2025. The funds were taken from local companies, most of which face no criminal charges. The arrangement allows the sheriff's office to pay a former judge a share of the recovered assets instead of a standard hourly fee.
The deal involves Israel Reyes, a former circuit court judge who administered Cordero-Stutz's oath of office in January 2025. Under the agreement, Reyes represents the sheriff's office in civil forfeiture cases. He receives 30% of seized assets. If the property owner contests the seizure in court, Reyes receives up to 35% of the value.
The position of elected sheriff was revived in 2018 after voters approved a statewide referendum. The role had been vacant since 1966. Cordero-Stutz took office on January 7, 2025, at Miami Dade College’s North Campus. She now commands a $1.2 billion budget. Reyes told the audience at the inauguration that he and Cordero-Stutz shared a long friendship and had served together at the Miami-Dade Police Department.
Legal experts describe the contingency fee structure as ethically questionable. Louis Rulli, a practice professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, stated that the conflict of interest undermines the neutrality of the justice system. He noted that civil forfeiture is quasi-criminal and does not require a conviction. The government seizes property based on a lower burden of proof than in criminal cases.
SH Americas, a distributor of Samsung phones, is among the impacted businesses. The sheriff's office seized $42.5 million from the company's accounts. Court filings indicate the company could not make payroll and faced potential closure. Reyes claimed in court that $2.6 billion in additional assets were forfeitable, a figure that would net him over $500 million. A judge ruled those specific funds were outside the court's jurisdiction.
Revenue from forfeitures reported by the sheriff's office rose to $9.6 million in the fiscal year following the contract. The previous year, the former Miami-Dade Police Department reported $396,000 from fines and forfeitures. This represents a 2,325% increase. The money is reported as department revenue rather than state or county treasury funds.
Plaintiffs argue the arrangement breaches public trust by incentivizing Reyes to pursue only lucrative cases. Miami Circuit Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan denied a motion to disqualify Reyes earlier this year. She wrote that the sheriff's office retains decision-making authority because it must approve cases before filing and sign off on settlements. The companies are appealing the decision in Florida’s 3rd District Court.
Attorney Lisandra Guerrero, representing the plaintiffs, said the practice allows lawyers with seizure power to profit. She stated, "Policing is not a for-profit enterprise." Tim Sandefur, Vice President for Legal Affairs at the Goldwater Institute, warned that the model makes the government appear like a predator. The sheriff's office and Reyes's law firm did not respond to requests for comment.
