United States v. 777 Greene Avenue

WESLEY, Circuit Judge:

Vinoo P. Varghese, counsel for claimant-appellant Mary Mayo, moves for permission to withdraw as counsel in this appeal. Mayo appeals from a civil judgment ordering the forfeiture of two pieces of real property, one of which is her primary residence, and a sum of currency. Although claimants in civil forfeiture proceedings lack a Sixth Amendment right to counsel, Congress, through the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000 (“CAFRA”), has created a statutory right to fill that void. The district court appointed Varghese to represent Mayo pursuant to this statute, 18…