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In December 2008, a man from Florida was pulled over on I-80 here in Wyoming. A search of his car revealed $17,000 in cash and a .44 caliber pistol. Wyoming law enforcement seized this property. The man was not charged with a crime and allowed go on his way. After initially offering to return 10% of these funds, then engaging with the property owner’s attorney, the Wyoming Attorney General returned the $17,000 and kept the pistol, in an agreement releasing the state of any liability surrounding the seizure.
In July 2009, a duffel bag containing $774,506.00 in cash and gold was seized from a man after he landed on a plane in Jackson from Chicago. The man was not charged with a crime. Neither the federal Drug Enforcement Agency nor the Wyoming AG could make a case, and the property was returned a month later.
In June 2010, Wyoming Highway Patrol pulled over three men travelling from North Carolina to Oregon. During the officer’s investigation, the driver went to the back of the car to retrieve some money. Upon noticing the $7,000 in cash that the driver was transporting, the officer seized the funds. No one was arrested or charged with a crime. The driver’s wife explained in a letter a few days later that the cash was part of their business. Two months after that, the money was returned to the driver after he signed a document releasing the state of any liability relating to the seizure.
(These cases are 2008-0405, 2009-0246, and 2010-0243, listed on the Attorney General’s forfeiture database. I researched the cases based on the fact that the money was actually returned, and have not had the time to look at the other 400 or so cases in the time period.)
originally posted by: TheConstruKctionofLight
a reply to: Blaine91555
I thought you yanks like us had the presumption of innocence. Secondly why the insistence on the signing of the waivers, if the LEO's were on solid ground?
originally posted by: TheConstruKctionofLight
a reply to: Blaine91555
I thought you yanks like us had the presumption of innocence. Secondly why the insistence on the signing of the waivers, if the LEO's were on solid ground?
originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Blaine91555
$91,800 hidden in a speaker and he lied and said it was not his. I can't say I blame the officers for not believing him and thinking it was contraband. People simply do not carry that kind of cash cross country if there is no reason to hide it.
What "People"? Because you don't, nobody does?
Cash isn't contraband, contraband is illegal drugs, stolen goods, Cuban cigars, whatever. Cash is only 'connected' to illegal activity by law enforcement on the hi way, without any prior record, without probable cause, because they want to steal it. They even admit it.
...I desire that the property or currency be disposed of as the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation sees fit...
Theres been no probable cause to search, confiscate and keep anything, let alone do whatever they see fit, without a hearing before a judge. Which if they had done would have been returned to him , which happened eventually.
I can hear the cops clapping the hi way thief on the back, "better luck next time, pardner"!
originally posted by: six67seven Phil had freaked, lied, wasn't aware of his rights and fell for the intimidation tactics which then led to him signing a waiver (of ownership of the cash)
originally posted by: six67seven
a reply to: intrptr
Not to mention the people that purchase homes and pay cash in full.
We have a lot of cash-purchased homes in my neck of the woods - it's common.
And that's what this guy (phil) was looking to do - purchase a studio. We are still free to travel with large amounts of cash, coin, jewelry (as long as it's not stolen or related to drugs)... am I right?
originally posted by: six67seven
a reply to: intrptr
So what's a guy to do??
Just keep asking the officer "Am I being detained. Am I free to go?"
originally posted by: Hazardous1408
a reply to: six67seven
Parhamovich
RUSSIANS!!!
In all seriousness, I do wonder why someone would keep $91,000 “hidden inside the portable speaker”...
Doesn’t exactly scream legit, but maybe I’m just being overly cynical.
originally posted by: Hazardous1408
a reply to: six67seven
Parhamovich
RUSSIANS!!!
In all seriousness, I do wonder why someone would keep $91,000 “hidden inside the portable speaker”...
Doesn’t exactly scream legit, but maybe I’m just being overly cynical.