Wednesday, May 13, 2015

"Justice Department's civil asset forfeiture"

"How the DEA took a young man’s life savings without ever charging him with a crime"
Joseph Rivers was hoping to hit it big. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the aspiring businessman from just outside of Detroit had pulled together $16,000 in seed money to fulfill a lifetime dream of starting a music video company. Last month, Rivers took the first step in that voyage, saying goodbye to the family and friends who had supported him at home and boarding an Amtrak train headed for Los Angeles.

He never made it. From the Albuquerque Journal:
A DEA agent boarded the train at the Albuquerque Amtrak station and began asking various passengers, including Rivers, where they were going and why. When Rivers replied that he was headed to LA to make a music video, the agent asked to search his bags. Rivers complied.
The agent found Rivers's cash, still in a bank envelope. He explained why he had it: He was starting a business in California, and he'd had trouble in the past withdrawing large sums of money from out-of-state banks.

The agents found nothing in Rivers's belongings that indicated that he was involved with the drug trade: no drugs, no guns. They didn't arrest him or charge him with a crime. But they took his cash anyway, every last cent...
Joseph Rivers is not the only one... (read more)

8 comments:

AllenS said...

the agent asked to search his bags. Rivers complied.

Never, never comply. Never.

Methadras said...

Civil Asset Forfeiture laws are just sanctioned theft and should be done away with. There are no due process laws established at all with them. I do not even know how this is even remotely constitutional and has gone on this long. It's just wrong on every conceivable level.

AllenS said...

Meth, it's because the government is not your friend. That's why it's gone on far too long. They are addicted to the money that they've figured out how to confiscate without being held accountable.

Aridog said...

Since Mr Rivers is apparently from Detroit area, I know the perfect Lawyer for him...Jerry Abraham of Abraham & Rose. He is a bulldog attorney, among the best I've known, for all things governmental when a plaintiff is wronged. He's represented me and others I referred ... always successfully ... including recovery of seized funds.

Hope he manages to see this (doubtful) or it is referred to him.

Aridog said...

Also, what AllenS said...be courteous, but never comply. Never.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Our nation is swirling down a toxic toilet.

Methadras said...

Allen, I never comply and never have and I know full well that government has never been my friend or a friend to anyone but itself and it's cronies.

Methadras said...

AprilApple said...

Our nation is swirling down a toxic toilet.


April, it's already past the J-Trap.