Prosecutors say Andrea Sneiderman made millions after her husband's murder and now they're trying to take that money away.
The DeKalb County District Attorney's Office filed a civil lawsuit on Friday, intending to cut Sneiderman off from her fortune. Court documents state that four of Sneiderman's bank accounts total $2.3 million.
The civil lawsuit argues that since Sneiderman is charged with helping plan her husband, rusty's murder, she should not be able to keep the millions that his death brought her.
"You're allowed to go after someone civilly for any monies or property that is [obtained] as a result of illegal activity," said attorney Brandon Lewis, who is not connected with the case.
Andrea Sneiderman was charged last week on eight counts, including malice murder and criminal attempt to commit murder in the death of her husband, Rusty Sneiderman. Andrea's former boss, Hemy Neuman, was convicted earlier this year of murdering Rusty Sneiderman in November 2010. Neuman is serving a life sentence.
In February 2011, three months after Rusty Sneiderman's murder, a life insurance policy paid Andrea more than $2 million.
Combined with his savings, the district attorney says Andrea's total financial benefit surrounding the murder was more than $2.5 million.
"And so if the state were to receive that money, logistically speaking, that money would then be transferred to the correct party," said Lewis.
The Sneiderman children could receive the funds.
Lewis says it's unlikely the civil court judge will decide who gets the money before Sneiderman's criminal case is complete, but that doesn't mean she will have access to it until then.
"More likely than not, what will happen is the judge will probably make a preliminary hearing and the funds will be frozen," said Lewis.
That would mean Sneiderman would not have the money to pay for her criminal defense.
Lewis says that because the burden of proof is so different between criminal and civil cases, it's possible for Sneiderman to be found not guilty of murder but still lose her fortune because a civil court judge finds her responsible for her husband's death.
Thursday, February 21 2013 8:08 PM EST2013-02-22 01:08:42 GMT
Court documents show that Andrea Sneiderman is thinking about a movie. On Thursday, her attorney asked the judge that she be allowed to have some companionship.
Court documents show that Andrea Sneiderman is thinking about a movie. On Thursday, her attorney asked the judge that she be allowed to have some companionship.
Thursday, August 2 2012 6:11 PM EDT2012-08-02 22:11:34 GMT
Attorneys for Andrea Sneiderman are upset over the way her arrest was handled on Thursday. They said it was over the top and unnecessary because they had volunteered to have her turn herself in.
Attorneys for Andrea Sneiderman are upset over the way her arrest was handled on Thursday. They said it was over the top and unnecessary because they had volunteered to have her turn herself in.
The father of murder victim Rusty Sneiderman took the stand in the murder trial of Hemy Neuman, accused of gunning down Rusty Sneiderman as he was dropping off his young son at a Dunwoody childcare center in November 2010.
The father of murder victim Rusty Sneiderman took the stand in the murder trial of Hemy Neuman, accused of gunning down Rusty Sneiderman as he was dropping off his young son at a Dunwoody childcare center in November 2010.
The widow of the man killed while dropping of his son at a Dunwoody childcare center took the stand for the second day in the murder trial of Hemy Neuman. Neuman is accused of killing Rusty Sneiderman outside the center in...
The widow of the man killed while dropping of his son at a Dunwoody childcare center took the stand for the second day in the murder trial of Hemy Neuman. Neuman is accused of killing Rusty Sneiderman outside the center in...
A Georgia murder suspect's defense attorneys want jurors for his trial to be sequestered. Hemy Neuman's attorneys are asking a judge Thursday to sequester the 12 women and four men selected on Thursday so they can be...
A Georgia murder suspect's defense attorneys want jurors for his trial to be sequestered. Hemy Neuman's attorneys are asking a judge Thursday to sequester the 12 women and four men selected on Thursday so they can be...
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:00 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:00:05 GMT
Authorities have canceled an Amber Alert for a 1-year-old girl after she was found safe.
Authorities have canceled an Amber Alert for a 1-year-old girl after she was found safe. They say 1-year-old Annya Buchannon was in the back of a car that was stolen just after midnight from the Playskool Daycare on Conley Road in Forest Park.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:57 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:57:46 GMT
Five people made a quick escape from a MARTA bus just before it was hit by a train Tuesday morning.
Five people made a quick escape from a MARTA bus just before it was hit by a train Tuesday morning. Fire crews say the bus stalled on the railroad tracks in downtown Decatur, and those onboard had just seconds to get out before an oncoming train hit it.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:48 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:48:00 GMT
Local families are taking a serious look at storm shelters in the aftermath of Monday's deadly tornado in Oklahoma.
Local families are taking a serious look at storm shelters in the aftermath of Monday's deadly tornado in Oklahoma. Those shelters could mean the difference between life and death when faced with one of these powerful storms.
