Atlanta COAM Forfeiture Lawyer

When the police or state investigators walk out your door with your cash, machines, or business equipment, you are dealing with more than just a potential criminal charge. You are looking at the real possibility that the government will keep your property. Working with an Atlanta COAM forfeiture lawyer is not just about building a defense. It is about fighting to regain the assets you have spent years building. At Wallack Law, our Atlanta commercial gambling attorney understands how these cases unfold and how to respond quickly to protect your rights and property.

Why Choose Us at Wallack Law?

Facing the state’s significant investigative resources requires an innovative and seasoned defense. Here is why clients choose Wallack Law for their criminal matters:

• Over 30 years of experience handling complex white-collar and gambling-related cases
• Strategic defense approach to challenge seizures and protect business operations
• Direct access to attorney Sandy Wallack and responsive, honest communication throughout the case

What Is COAM Forfeiture in Georgia?

You see Coin Operated Amusement Machines in almost every neighborhood convenience store and gas stations across Georgia. Under the law, they are legal, provided the prizes stay as store credit or merchandise. However, the moment an investigator suspects a customer walked out with cash instead of a lottery ticket or fuel, they treat your business like an illegal gambling ring.

Investigations often involve local law enforcement working alongside the Georgia Lottery Corporation (GLC), which regulates COAM licensing and compliance. When authorities suspect violations, they may initiate forfeiture proceedings to seize property they claim is connected to unlawful activity.

Forfeiture is frequently handled as a civil matter. Because the burden of proof is lower than in a criminal trial, the state only needs to show it is more likely than not that the property was involved in a crime. You can lose your property even if you are never charged with a crime or if your criminal case is eventually dismissed.

What Property Can Be Seized in a COAM Investigation?

When the state moves in, it often casts a wide net, seizing anything believed to have facilitated the alleged gambling activity. This can create an immediate financial crisis for a business owner. Property commonly targeted includes:

• Gaming equipment: This includes both Class A and Class B machines, even if only one was allegedly used improperly.
• Cash and financial assets: The state can freeze or seize money found on the premises and entire business bank accounts.
• Operational documents: The state often takes computers, servers, and business records for forensic review.
• Real estate and vehicles: If the state argues that you used your store or a specific vehicle to transport or house illegal gambling, it can initiate forfeiture against the title itself.

Under Georgia’s Uniform Civil Forfeiture Procedure Act, you typically have a very narrow 30-day window to file a formal claim to your property. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to fight the seizure entirely. Our experienced Atlanta COAM forfeiture attorney may also argue the innocent owner defense if an employee or tenant conducted the alleged illegal activity without your knowledge.

Call an Experienced Atlanta COAM Forfeiture Lawyer Today

If your machines, funds, or equipment were taken during a COAM sweep, you cannot afford to sit back and wait for a court date. You must challenge the forfeiture before the strict legal deadline passes, or the state gets to keep everything by default. Having the right legal guidance early on can help you get your property back and keep your business from going under. Wallack Law helps people throughout Atlanta fight these seizures. Contact us today so we can review your case and develop a plan to recover what is yours.