Feds will fight to keep $167,000 taken from driver in Northern Nevada

[Newsjock]

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal

Federal prosecutors are appealing a judge's order to return $167,000 seized from a motor home on a Nevada highway following a drug search.

In court papers prosecutors with the U.S. attorney's office in Reno said they plan to file briefs challenging the order with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

In a June 12 decision, Senior U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks of Reno said prosecutors in earlier filings were not candid about what led Elko County sheriff's deputies to seize the cash in January 2013. The motor home was being driven on Interstate 80 by Staughn Gorman, a resident of Hawaii.

... Gorman was neither charged nor even cited for a traffic violation. ... The search turned up no drugs, but the $167,000 was found hidden in various places.


Read more: http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada/feds-will-fight-keep-167000-taken-driver-northern-nevada

[Dustlawyer]

1. WTF!!!

[cstanleytech]

2. The money needs to be returned, plain and simple.

[AuntPatsy]

3. And they will hopefully lose that fight....

[Kelvin Mace]

27. They need to lose, then be counter-sued for extortion

Because basically it boils down to "We are taking this money, and if you try and stop us we will arrest you."

[Feeling the Bern]

4. Forfeiture laws are a disgrace.

[MosheFeingold]

23. I concur

The out-of-control law enforcement is disgusting.

[WDIM]

26. I disagree i think forfeiture laws should be used on the banksters

And white collar criminals that steal our money through embezzlement extortion and racketeering.

[Mnemosyne]

5. Legalized highway robbery needs to end. And no citation or charges? WTF. nt

[DJ13]

6. When it becomes against the law to hold the legal currency in a country

That country is one step away from totalitarianism.

[Psephos]

7. It has already arrived.

A government that flagrantly thumbs its nose at its own Constitution is by definition rogue. A government that co-opts compliant media to serve as its Ministry of Truth to tell us The War on Terra and Drugs is DoublePlusGood - so that it can steal your money at gunpoint - is actually the criminal we need protection against.

We used to be a nation of laws. Now we are a nation of outlaws...and they are in charge.

[Marrah_G]

18. It already is. Police are allowed to take your money if they want.

They just claim they have reason to suspect it is money from a crime. Then they not only get to confiscate it, but their department can spend it on whatever they want.

[Jim Lane]

8. Give him back his money. Confiscate Cliven Bundy's cattle instead.

If the Obama Administration doesn't want to pursue its claims against Bundy, they can sell all the rights to me for $10,000, cash up front, which is $10,000 more than the Treasury will apparently ever see under the current policy. I'll happily pursue civil remedies against Bundy and I won't need any drug-sniffing dogs.

[jtuck004]

9. This guy didn't even get a traffic ticket? Trump is trying to destroy the country. Go get his

$10 billion...

[djean111]

10. Attorney General Loretta Lynch LOVES civil forfeiture.

She also does not think marijuana should be legalized.
And even though, on the surface, she has said the feds will no longer fund raids in states where weed is legal, the raids continue. The raids are very profitable. Asset forfeiture.
Lynch said safeguards are in place concerning civil forfeiture, but I believe those safeguards really are to keep the money once it is seized. Googling Loretta Lynch forfeiture is a real eye-opener. Rand Paul has attacked her on this issue, but I am afraid that means a knee-jerk reaction from some that if Paul is against it, we must be for it.

Some great AG appointment. No wonder the GOP said okay.

[rpannier]

13. Agood example of when reaching across the aisle is a good thing

Kind of like Warren-McCain on reinstating Glass-Steagel

[djean111]

14. It is a good thing that we have an AG who is FOR civil asset forfeiture and AGAINST

marijuana legalization? That's not reaching across the aisle, that is moving across the aisle.

[rpannier]

15. I should have been clearer

I meant... it would be a good opportunity for reaching across the aisle and ending this civil forfeiture
I'd be good with a Democratic Senator aligning with Paul (or any Republican) on this issue

[djean111]

16. Ah. Thank you. I was a bit taken aback! n/t

[Feeling the Bern]

24. Obama's entire administration has been a thumb in the eye of civil liberties

Ask Chelsea Manning, Eric Snowden and other political prisoners. Ask the Occupy movement protestors, the anti-war protestors and the fact Gitmo is still open.

Candidate Obama sounded great. President Obama leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Candidate Clinton leaves a worse sour taste. Go Bernie!

[GoneFishin]

11. Give them back their godamned money you crooked bastards.

[rpannier]

12. Give him back his money

Let's the feds know they'll be forced to pay double the guys attorneys fees if they don't drop it
Oh... and the guy should get interest on his money they've stolen

[Marrah_G]

17. John Oliver did a great segment on "civil forfiture"

[dembotoz]

19. At the end of last football season a grrn bay packers was arrested in Florida with some dope and $$$

Seems he took last couple paychecks in cash for traveling money
Initial reports were kinda like this must b drug money......

Seems he had a hard time convincing the cops that a starting NFL lineman gets paid more than they do....
Leroy faces a couple game suspension
Don't know if he got his pay back

[fredamae]

20. This happens All the time n/t

[Sunlei]

21. police are on a cash & asset grab because Fed. seizure laws allow this looting.

Police do not 'loot' a persons debit card when they use a bank account, instead of cash.

[marble falls]

22. Hey, they stole it fair and square!

[Nye Bevan]

25. "Civil forfeiture" is an obscenity.

The only way someone should ever have to turn over their money or possessions is if they are found guilty of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.