Federal prosecutors agreed Wednesday to return more than $100,000 that was seized from a rural convenience store owner even though the owner, Lyndon McLellan, was not accused of a crime. The Justice Department announced in March that it would no longer pursue such seizures, a form of civil asset forfeiture based on a pattern of small cash deposits, without a criminal charge or evidence of criminal activity. The prosecutor in Mr. McLellan’s case had expressed displeasure that Congress had been given sealed court filings and offered him a settlement of half his money. Last week, the Justice Department said it would investigate two other prosecutors after one business owner whose assets were seized said he had been punished more harshly after publicizing his case and another said he had been threatened with a felony charge if he did not agree to give up some of his money. This is the third high-profile case that prosecutors have dropped in recent months.

SHAILA DEWAN