It all started with a knock on the door. For Amy Nelson, a typical day in March 2020 quickly spiraled into a nightmare after FBI agents appeared at her front step, altering her family’s life forever.
Months later, the FBI froze her family’s assets, leaving them financially paralyzed at a time when they needed support most.
The situation worsened when federal agents raided their home, seizing documents and valuable personal property.
Now, years later, Amy is speaking out about the damage caused by the FBI, Amazon, and its CEO Jeff Bezos.
She believes that their actions, motivated by a corporate agenda, have shattered her family’s life.
And despite the ongoing legal battle, Amy is holding onto hope that President Donald Trump’s administration could offer the justice her family desperately seeks.
The Heartbreaking Accusations Against Carl Nelson
In 2020, Amy’s husband, Carl, a former Amazon employee, became embroiled in a legal battle after being accused of participating in a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme.
The accusations revolved around real estate deals linked to Amazon’s Web Services (AWS) data centers in Northern Virginia, where Carl allegedly conspired to defraud Amazon through inflated land deals.
While Carl denied these claims, the legal repercussions were immediate, and his life – and that of his family – was turned upside down.
Amy describes the shock and disbelief she felt when federal agents arrived at their door, telling them that Carl was a target of a federal investigation.
“It was like a bomb went off in our lives,” she said, recounting how their world was flipped in an instant.
What followed was a relentless series of asset seizures, a home raid, and the overwhelming strain of trying to fight back against powerful forces.
A Family’s Life in Shambles
Within a month of the FBI’s visit, the Nelsons found their financial resources frozen, with nearly every dollar they had seized by the government.
“They didn’t freeze it, they took it,” Amy recalled, describing the unsettling feeling of watching everything slip away.
What followed was a cascade of losses: their home, their car, their retirement savings, and their sense of security.
The family, which included four young children, was forced to move multiple times, seeking refuge with relatives. “We lost everything,” Amy says.
“We had to sell our home and even liquidate our retirement.”
Despite all this, Amy remained determined to keep fighting.
While Carl faced accusations that he had defrauded Amazon, Amy believed the real crime was the way her family was treated by powerful institutions with the ability to control their lives.
Amazon’s Role in the Crisis
The core of the issue lies in Amazon’s involvement, which began when the company accused Carl of participating in a fraudulent kickback scheme.
The tech giant filed a civil lawsuit against him, seeking millions in damages, and its influence on the Department of Justice (DOJ) became a focal point in the Nelsons’ struggle.
Amy believes that Amazon’s sheer power allowed it to manipulate the DOJ into pursuing charges that were ultimately vacated years later.
“I think Amazon just thought no one would fight back,” Amy said.
“They’re so big that they assumed they could do whatever they wanted.”
This was evident in the communications Amy obtained, which revealed how Amazon’s lawyers lobbied the DOJ, even before the department had investigated the allegations thoroughly.
What followed was a relentless legal battle that left Amy’s family feeling powerless against the might of Amazon and its resources.
The Fight for Accountability
Despite the legal challenges, Amy remains determined to hold Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos accountable for what she views as an abuse of power.
She believes that the situation is emblematic of a larger problem in America – the unchecked influence of powerful corporations and individuals. “It isn’t just about us,” Amy says.
“It’s about the fact that powerful men like Jeff Bezos think they can use America’s institutions to destroy families.”
Amy’s frustrations were further compounded by the DOJ’s actions, particularly when they seized her family’s assets and withheld money they desperately needed.
“The most American thing you can do is fight for America to be what it’s supposed to be,” Amy explained.
She sees this fight as a way to ensure that America remains a place where justice prevails, not a country ruled by powerful billionaires.
The Shift in the Legal Battle
In a surprising turn of events, in 2024, federal prosecutors vacated the pleas of Carl’s alleged co-conspirators, Kyle Ramstetter and Christian Kirschner.
This move raised questions about the legitimacy of the accusations against Carl, especially since the DOJ never sought Carl’s employment contract, which would have clarified much of the dispute.
For Amy, this was proof that the charges against her husband were never as clear-cut as they seemed.
The judge overseeing the case even ruled that Amazon’s claims were flawed, stating that Carl’s actions were authorized by his employment contract.
Despite this, Amazon continues to press forward with its civil case, leaving Amy and her family wondering why they can’t simply move on after all the damage that has been done.
The Future of the Nelsons’ Fight for Justice
Amy’s fight is far from over. She and her family are still seeking access to key documents sealed by the DOJ during the investigation.
These documents could reveal crucial information about how Amazon and the DOJ coordinated their actions against her husband.
The family is also fighting to recover the remaining $300,000 in assets that were seized during the investigation.
“Why wouldn’t they give us that money back?” Amy asked.
“If they closed the investigation and found no crime was committed, why keep the money?”
Looking for Help from the Trump Administration
Having reached out to President Donald Trump’s administration, Amy is hopeful that the new leadership at the DOJ and FBI will be more receptive to her family’s situation.
I believe this administration will look into what happened to us,” she said.
“If not, we need to stop pretending we live in a constitutional republic.”
Amy’s goal is not revenge but accountability.
She hopes that the Trump administration will help her family recover their assets and finally bring closure to this painful chapter.
The Impact on the Nelsons’ Lives
The Nelson family’s life has been irrevocably changed by the events of the last five years.
After moving several times, they are now settled in Columbus, Ohio.
Despite their hardships, Amy remains proud of her family’s resilience.
“We’re both entrepreneurs, and we’ve hustled,” she said.
“But it’s frustrating. It’s wrong. It’s reshaped our lives.”
Carl now works as a real estate developer, while Amy has started a company called The Riveter, which supports women in the workplace.
But even with these new ventures, the shadow of Amazon’s actions continues to haunt them.
“It’s a terrifying statement about what we believe in America,” Amy said.
Conclusion: A Call for Justice
As the Nelsons continue their fight for justice, they are determined to prove that no one – not even the richest men in the world – should be able to use their wealth and power to destroy lives.
“The government shouldn’t be the tool of billionaires,” Amy said.
“We’re still fighting, and we’re not giving up.”