Student Fights Back After Gov’t Seized His Life Savings At Airport

a reply to: Kapusta

Okay, geez, I'm sorry, but the bs is ridiculous here. Not for what you think either.

The dummy smoked pot on his way to the airport, and then admitted it? Really? And who carries around $11,000 in cash, especially in a damn airport? Airports are full of cops and TSA agents. That is just freakin' stupid.

I do not feel sorry for this kid. What an idiot. No, he doesn't deserve to get it back. He forfeited it through his stupidity.

originally posted by: lightedhype
a reply to: Annee

I sure would. What is the alternative? Pay some 100$ transfer fee from Western Union?

No thanks.

You damn well better carry it on. The baggage handlers will steal dirty underwear if they think it's their size.

I'm as pro-marijuana as they come but this statement was beyond stupid:

Clarke says the smell may have been due to him having smoked pot in the car on the way to the airport.


“I’m not a drug dealer. I’ve never been,” Clarke said. “I didn’t have any plans on doing anything illegal. I was just trying to get home.”

Illegally smokes pot on the way to the airport, tries to carry $11,000 in cash through security while reeking of freshly smoked pot, admits to smoking pot, then claims "I didn't have any plans on doing anything illegal."

He's not the brightest bulb in the fixture, this boy.

originally posted by: ChiefD

I do not feel sorry for this kid. What an idiot. No, he doesn't deserve to get it back. He forfeited it through his stupidity.

Seriously!

And do we really believe his story?

originally posted by: ChiefD
a reply to: Kapusta

Okay, geez, I'm sorry, but the bs is ridiculous here. Not for what you think either.

The dummy smoked pot on his way to the airport, and then admitted it? Really? And who carries around $11,000 in cash, especially in a damn airport? Airports are full of cops and TSA agents. That is just freakin' stupid.

I do not feel sorry for this kid. What an idiot. No, he doesn't deserve to get it back. He forfeited it through his stupidity.

I think its more bout how the government can just take your money , Maybe in this case the victim was not to smart , However this is not an Isolated thing . You read the stats ....didn't you ?

I have also read threads on here about "Highway Robbery" by law enforcement .

I have traveled on a train back from Seattle WA with close to 13k on me after fishing season .

The point is , it was his money and they assumed it was "drug money " he didn't break any Laws ..did he ?

originally posted by: Answer
I'm as pro-marijuana as they come but this statement was beyond stupid:

Clarke says the smell may have been due to him having smoked pot in the car on the way to the airport.


“I’m not a drug dealer. I’ve never been,” Clarke said. “I didn’t have any plans on doing anything illegal. I was just trying to get home.”

Illegally smokes pot on the way to the airport, tries to carry $11,000 in cash through security while reeking of freshly smoked pot, admits to smoking pot, then claims "I didn't have any plans on doing anything illegal."

He's not the brightest bulb in the fixture, this boy.

Illegally smokes pot?

I am sure its not illegal to smoke pot in Kentucky ?

a reply to: ChiefD

being stupid isn't against the law.

if it were...we'd have even more prisoners than the absurd amount we have today.

originally posted by: Kapusta

originally posted by: Answer
I'm as pro-marijuana as they come but this statement was beyond stupid:

Clarke says the smell may have been due to him having smoked pot in the car on the way to the airport.


“I’m not a drug dealer. I’ve never been,” Clarke said. “I didn’t have any plans on doing anything illegal. I was just trying to get home.”

Illegally smokes pot on the way to the airport, tries to carry $11,000 in cash through security while reeking of freshly smoked pot, admits to smoking pot, then claims "I didn't have any plans on doing anything illegal."

He's not the brightest bulb in the fixture, this boy.

Illegally smokes pot?

I am sure its not illegal to smoke pot in Kentucky ?

What?

Yes, marijuana is illegal in Kentucky.

everyone keeps saying the guy shouldnt been walking around with that much cash, so its his fault. BULL!!!
That was HIS MONEY, those scumbags had NO RIGHT to it. We should be allowed to carry ANY amount of cash and be free of worry that the people that are supposed to PROTECT US might actually be the ones to WORRY ABOUT

originally posted by: HomerinNC
everyone keeps saying the guy shouldnt been walking around with that much cash, so its his fault. BULL!!!
That was HIS MONEY, those scumbags had NO RIGHT to it. We should be allowed to carry ANY amount of cash and be free of worry that the people that are supposed to PROTECT US might actually be the ones to WORRY ABOUT

Carrying that much cash isn't a problem.

Going through airport security with that much cash while smelling like MJ is monumentally stupid and now he's paying for his stupidity with hassle.

Maybe the DEA should seize the assets of the CIA. They're probably still smuggling drugs.

That's a lot different than my first reaction to this topic. My original reply probably would have been banned. It involved thumbs, eyes, windpipes, and nose cartilage.

originally posted by: TheLieWeLive
a reply to: Kapusta

Maybe it's just me but, if I was him, I would have left the fact out about just smoking weed earlier.

Open mouth...insert foot.

Because smoking pot on the way to the airport justifies charges of drug trafficking and civil forfeiture of funds due to a "smell". Anything he admitted too doesn't make it any less absurd although I can sympathize with your line of thinking.

originally posted by: Answer

originally posted by: Kapusta

originally posted by: Answer
I'm as pro-marijuana as they come but this statement was beyond stupid:

Clarke says the smell may have been due to him having smoked pot in the car on the way to the airport.


“I’m not a drug dealer. I’ve never been,” Clarke said. “I didn’t have any plans on doing anything illegal. I was just trying to get home.”

Illegally smokes pot on the way to the airport, tries to carry $11,000 in cash through security while reeking of freshly smoked pot, admits to smoking pot, then claims "I didn't have any plans on doing anything illegal."

He's not the brightest bulb in the fixture, this boy.

Illegally smokes pot?

I am sure its not illegal to smoke pot in Kentucky ?

What?

Yes, marijuana is illegal in Kentucky.

yeah , sorry I live in CA , the pot capital i keep forgetting its illegal in some states still.

Here you can pick it up anywhere like going into a store .

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Kapusta

Anything over $10,000 in cash has always been confiscated. Especially if you're going out of the country.

Not correct.

But to take over 10k with you internationally, you have to report it at customs, then they give you a form to fill out and it is all good. I have done it myself. They told me a lot of people fear reporting large sums of cash without even knowing it is totally legal as long as you report it. Usually it is people from other countries that know in their own country, many officials are corrupt and will just steal their money if they report it. This was told to me by US customs officials.
customs on 10k or over while traveling

a reply to: HomerinNC

I had to reply to a post in order speak, so i picked yours as i agree. (this isn't a direct reply is all im saying)

This thread stinks of Stockholm syndrome.

You've all been under the authoritarian boot for so long it feel normal now, you make excuses for things that should never be excused.. not just this event.. but any injustice lately seems has a posse of fanchilds ready to tell us "it's how it is now and we accept that"

NO.

This is theft, plain and simple.. paint it anyway you want, but it's theft.
And to throw undue suspicion into the mix is paramount to defamation.

That was his money. NOBODY ELSE'S and he should receive it all back in due haste, as no (actual) crime has been committed other than the one fabricated to garner revenue, the money didn't smoke weed, and the money is HIS.

That really should be the end of it.. but no.. our world is run and overseen by thugs of the lowest caliber, and it's painful to see so many of us just accept that and roll over.. not my problem.. until it happens to you then you'll be told you should have followed the *rules* and that your stupid/ignorant or worse for not falling into line.. you know the rules layed out in the past decade that nobody agreed with other than the thugs in charge.. many of those rules are backward, but you've been told.. so you fall in line.

Sad world, I hope this guy gets his money back.. i wonder how much the legal fee's will be.... probably more than he's trying to recover.. but that's... another sad story of apathy.

I've flown coast to coast with over 15k and MY prescriptions in my bag that went through the scanner so I know they had to see it but no trouble at all. I think in this case being black in Kentucky was the problem for this kid unfortunately. Good luck to him though cuz once they have it it is almost impossible to get back.

a reply to: Kapusta

I work with cash only. I dont want anyone knowing what i buy and when i buy it.

Anyway, onto the subject of the guys bag "smelled of Drugs", Isn't it the case that most if not all Dollars in circulation have traces of Cocaine on them. if TPTB use the excuse that because they could smell drugs then surely they could confiscate every Dollar in the US on the same pretense if they swabbed them.

Just a thought. Maybe it's time ya'all Laundered yer Dollars..ie, in the washing machine. you know, Just in case someone in power has a brainfart on how to get their grubby mitts on everyone's hard earned.

originally posted by: Soloprotocol

Anyway, onto the subject of the guys bag "smelled of Drugs", Isn't it the case that most if not all Dollars in circulation have traces of Cocaine on them. if TPTB use the excuse that because they could smell drugs then surely they could confiscate every Dollar in the US on the same pretense if they swabbed them.

J.

It is exactly that reason that I think the use of drug dogs should be unlawful considering most currency has coc aine residue on it. So really anytime a drug dog is used and the suspect has cash on them then boom dog hits and that person is put through the ringer over nothing and most likely having their cash seized.

unless it is known that you have, or are about to, commit a crime, you should be able to carry your own money anywhere, no matter how much it is. this is strictly a pre-cognitive government robbery. fourth and fifth amendments should be enforced on this one, just as much as the 2nd amendment.

Both sides have legal standing. The point for the student, he did not have anything on him, no drugs, nothing illegal save a large amount of cash. The very notion of law enforcement, taking such without proof of anything illegal. It could be argued that all of the currency in circulation, unless it is new bills, have some form of residue on it that would give the indication of drugs, especially older bills.

On the other hand, this did happen in Kentucky, and the young man did have the odor of pot on him, from smoking such in the car on the way to the airport. Now if he had a medical reason for such, then that would give more weight to his case, but the reality is that under the federal laws of the United States, such is still illegal. The thing that I would ask, is why not have it on say a prepaid card, or even in a bank, where such would not have been taken? In the early days of the drug war, especially in the 80's, one of the signs that there was drug activity going on, would have been the presence of a large amount of cash.