Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (“Bernie Madoff and the Case for Civil Asset Forfeiture,” Nov. 9) suggests civil forfeiture is all about returning money to victims of crime. This undoubtedly comes as news to scores of innocent small-business owners who have been targeted for civil forfeiture by Mr. Rosenstein’s agency. Their stories have been widely reported, and they are victims in their own right.

The truth is, the government keeps far more forfeited money than it ever returns to victims. While Mr. Rosenstein says...