Illinois gun shop sues sheriff, U.S. Secret Service over seizure worth millions

• Two Illinois gun shop owners are suing Will County authorities and the U.S. Secret Service, claiming wrongful civil forfeiture. The couple’s attorneys say civil forfeiture cases have ramped up in Will County, sparking civil rights discussions.
• The couple alleges their Fourth and 14th Amendment rights were violated when authorities seized vehicles and investment accounts without proper legal procedures.
• They maintain their innocence in connection to the fraud and theft charges related to COVID-19 funds.

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The owners of a gun shop in New Lenox, Illinois, are suing Will County authorities and the U.S. Secret Service, alleging wrongful forfeiture. In 2023, the gun shop owners, a couple, Jeffery Regnier and Greta Keranen, were investigated for money laundering.

Regnier told the Chicago Tribune that the investigation began after he made a $750,000 deposit into his bank account, which he says followed a spike in gun sales at his store during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The couple was indicted on 29 felony counts for fraud and theft related to COVID-19 funds. They maintain their innocence.

In January, Regnier and Keranen filed a lawsuit against the Secret Service and Will County authorities, claiming frivolous civil forfeiture. Civil forfeiture laws allow the government to seize property or assets suspected of being connected to criminal activity, even if the owner is not charged or convicted of a crime.

Regnier and Keranen say their Fourth Amendment rights were violated when authorities seized four of their vehicles — which were not listed on the search warrant — and investment accounts worth millions of dollars. They also claim their 14th Amendment rights were violated because a probable cause hearing was not held after the seizure.

The lawsuit claims the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, working with the Secret Service and the Will County Sheriff’s Office, brought “knowingly frivolous civil forfeiture claims” to profit the state’s attorney and other Illinois agencies.

Local governments and police departments can benefit from forfeiture seizures, as the proceeds from seized assets — such as cash, vehicles or property — often go directly to law enforcement agencies or local government budgets. This provides extra funds for operations, equipment and other needs.

According to the Chicago Tribune, “Under Illinois law, 65% of forfeiture proceeds go to the arresting agency, which in this case is either Will County Sheriff or U.S. Secret Service. Twelve and a half percent goes to the state’s attorney, 12.5% to the state appellate prosecutor, and 10% to Illinois State Police.”

Attorneys for Regnier and Keranen say civil forfeiture cases have ramped up in Will County, sparking civil rights discussions. In January, 223 civil forfeiture cases were set to be heard at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet. By Jan. 29, 149 had been scheduled for February, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Defense attorneys say civil forfeiture laws were not meant to be weaponized against citizens.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service both say they cannot comment on the pending litigation.