Inspectors find $1.3M stashed in sleeper compartment

Which backs up my statement:

Ever watch Cops or deal with any? They don't assume you are innocent or give you the benefit of the doubt. They assume you are hosing them, until you can prove differently quick enough. Don't and you are off to jail. Whether you like it or not...that is how it works.

 

Road-I underlined the section of the Federal Money Laundering Act that applied. He brought the money into the US from Mexico (as it said in the story).

 

DEA Returns Trucker’s Cash
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2007 ​

CONTACT: Whitney Potter (505) 266 5915 ext. 1003, Cell (505) 507 9898
ALBUQUERQUE—The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) gave back almost $23,000 to truck driver Anastasio Prieto in response to a civil rights lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico. The DEA seized the money in connection with a search of Prieto’s truck that occurred at a weigh station north of El Paso on August 8. DEA agents had no evidence that Prieto was involved in illegal activity.
“Carrying around large amounts of cash is not a crime in America,” said ACLU Executive Director Peter Simonson. “But our federal laws have so empowered law enforcement to investigate drug activity that some officers assume they can simply cut the corners and dispense with the need for actual evidence. That’s what occurred in Mr. Prieto’s case, and we were glad that our involvement could set the record straight—at least in this instance.”
While claims have been dropped against the DEA, Prieto has an ongoing lawsuit against the New Mexico state police for their role in the money seizure. During the August 8 incident, state officers—who are yet to be identified--asked to search Prieto’s truck and if it contained “needles or cash in excess of ten thousand dollars.” Prieto consented to the search and replied that, while he did not have any needles, he did have nearly $24,000 in his possession.
Officers took the money and turned it over DEA officials, who informed Prieto that he would need to prove in an administrative hearing that the money truly is his, and that it did not derive from illegal drug sales. Agents told Prieto that the process would “probably take a year.”
Simonson said, “It appears that the DEA pulled some strings to speed the process up and get Mr. Prieto’s money back to him. Probably they feared bad publicity. Most Americans are deeply offended by the notion that the government can so arbitrarily deprive a law-abiding citizen of his or her hard-earned cash.”
Both Albuquerque and Santa Fe newspapers published editorial comments decrying the DEA’s actions. [link to Journal editorial and Sandy’s column in New Mexican.]
ACLU attorneys Cid Lopez, George Bach, and Maureen Sanders filed the suit on Prieto’s behalf in federal court. The ACLU has filed a public records request with the Department of Public Safety to determine the identity of the officers who originally seized Prieto’s money.

 

I have immediate family in Law Enforcement, locally. And, I know over half of the officers in my county and several at the State and Federal level. Even go hunting with some of them.

Yet I still have a deep distrust for ANY Law Enforcement.

When I have problems locally. I deal with the ones I know....ONLY! And yes. I've been on both sides of an issue when dealing with the Law. I've even sat my ### in jail for a few days Which is kinda embarrassing, when your friends are the ones that are asked to put you there.

But, I have been cut a LOT of slack with many of the officers. Because they know me, and know I'm not a trouble maker. But I do have a loud mouth and a pissy attitude. Which tends to get me in more trouble, than my actions

 

LMAO You sound like the one typing this response! It helps to know a few you are right.

 

The $10,000 limit only applies to US Customs port of entry locations. You must declare it when entering the country. But there is no law stating that you must use a bank to hold any sum of money.

As a poker player, I know that many high stakes players regularly carry well over $100,000 in cash. My bankroll has risen significantly in the past six months, and I assume I could eventually be targeted like this in the future.

It reminds me of a story of Daniel Negreanu coming back from Aruba after a tournament. He had over $1million in a duffel bag that he brought directly onto the plane. US Customs in Miami harassed him in the plane for over 30 minutes, even after he declared the cash and that he was a poker player. The feds didn't believe him and it took the positive identification of several passengers to indeed confirm that he was a professional poker player and was simply bringing his winnings back into the country!

 

he just wanted 100 gallons of fuel

 

thats too funny

 

Candab-If you frequent pocket 5's you'll probably remember the kid that went to Vegas on a fake id and won (I believe like 60k) and was arrested going back to TX with like 48k left. Remember the hard time Law Enforcement gave him! While it is not illegal to carry over 10k, good luck if you are pulled over. Cops are a whole lot less tolerant with "regular joes" than they are with celebrities.

 

Yes, that is illegal, but still there is no law that states carrying large sums of money is illegal in the states.