DEA Will Return $82K Life Savings It Seized From an Elderly Pittsburgh Man and His Daughter

Reason ^ | 3.4.2020 | C.J. CIARAMELLA

[Buckeye McFrog]

This guy has filed a Federal lawsuit challenging the entire program.

They are giving him his money back in an effort to make nice and hope he drops it and goes away.

I don’t think he will.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"...She says she intended to deposit the money in a bank but ran out of time before her flight."

What happened stinks, but for $82,000 you make time.

[doosee]

A few months ago one network had an expose of Tennessee cops on I-40 seizing cash and only after that letting people go. No doubt much of that ended up in the wallet of the seizing authority. It was all under the guise of checking for drugs. Really rotten law enforcement.

[zeugma]

Never EVER carry more than 10K cash.

There are plenty of situations these days where even with big ticket items, cash is king. If you're buying a rig or airplane from an individual, even cashier's checks are no longer safe. As others have mentioned here, it is not illegal to carry cash in this country (yet). I know I sure as hell wouldn't declare any cash I had to some thief that works for the government for any reason whatsoever, because they are as likely as not to "confiscate" it from you, especially if it's not enough money to make it worth your while to fight the seizure.

The entire concept of the government just confiscating money from citizens because they feel like it is evil incarnate. If such a thing were to happen to me, I'd probably end up in jail, because I wouldn't be satisfied with 'legal' remedies.

[Mr. K]

was she running off with dad’s money?

[ASA Vet]

When I travel to Thailand and the Philippines I only carry enough cash to buy food, incidentals at the airports, and taxi fare for when I arrive. Cash I need while "incountry" is available at many ATM's or if PI in my BDO bank account.

Way back in the 60's I carried American Express travelers checks in a belly money belt. This is not the 60's.

[zeugma]

So the people who own the item are never charged with a crime, but their stuff is. That’s funny right there, except it’s not.

It's not actually funny. The reason they do this is because 'stuff' has no constitutional rights. You don't have to prove its guilt. The 'stuff' has to prove its innocence. Very difficult to prove a negative.

[cuban leaf]

It should also be very difficult to accuse “stuff” of a crime, since there is no intent because it has no brain. Only people can commit crimes. They might was well watch you shoot a man in cold blood, wrestle the gun from your hand and accuse it of murder.

[cuban leaf]

International travel is a completely different animal. Not even relevant here.

[Buckeye McFrog]

they are pissed off that their victim was able to fight back.

Yup. He was fortunate that all of the local TV stations preferred to run his "poor Yinzer" story for ratings rather than circle the wagons around Uncle Sugar. He attained the one thing that often gets tyrannical bureaucrats to back down. Public humiliation.

[ASA Vet]

International travel is a completely different animal. Not even relevant here.

How so? My ATM card seems to work fine in the US.

[cuban leaf]

There are laws about how much money you can take across the US boarder without claiming it. As long as you are inside the US, there is no law about carrying money. None. It’s your stuff. Carry what you want to. It’s nobody’s business.

[ASA Vet]

since there is no intent because it has no brain

Is that how Hillary got away with it? No brain.

[Taxman]

PLUS INTEREST!

PLUS DAMAGES!

PLUS JAIL TIME FOR THE DEA AGENTS!

[DariusBane]

You would seize the money? Do you need a new truck. Get a job and earn the money.

[ASA Vet]

It’s nobody’s business

True and I agree, but I prefer not to tell a gang banger it's none of their business.

[READINABLUESTATE]

About time there is push back on this crap.

[Ken H]

“A few months ago one network had an expose of Tennessee cops on I-40 seizing cash and only after that letting people go. No doubt much of that ended up in the wallet of the seizing authority. It was all under the guise of checking for drugs. Really rotten law enforcement.”

________

There was a story on FR many years ago about an innocent family that was stopped along I-40 in TN. Their dog got out of the car during the search and the dirty cops shot and killed him.

[gcparent]

Daughter was so stupid.

[Anti-Bubba182]

I doubt it, but she was careless.