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From: mark@DRD.Com (Mark Lawrence)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk,misc.legal
Subject: Re: Sophistication of federal investigators
Message-ID: <1991Jan14.182322.2400@DRD.Com>
Date: 14 Jan 91 18:23:22 GMT
References: <1991Jan10.035939.26587@ddsw1.MCS.COM> <286@kumr.UUCP> <1991Jan13.191251.28841@ddsw1.MCS.COM>
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Organization: DRD Corporation
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karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) wrote:
[...]
} It began with the "drug war" a few years ago.  The law was perverted to allow
} the seizure of "drug dealers" property, even from people who weren't charged
} with a crime.  Ex-Governor of Florida Bob Martinez actually sanctioned the 
} Volusia County Sherrif's seizure of cash from people travelling on their 
} roads, without warrant or probable cause, and without arresting the people 
} in question!  THIS IS STILL GOING ON TODAY and has brought in over 2 MILLION
} dollars from persons who were never charged with a crime or convicted of any
} wrongdoing.  
[...]

Case in point in Oklahama.  Steven Zerifis, an owner/operator of a
small tree-trimming business, was stopped by law officers while he was
returning from Michigan on a combination fishing trip/equipment hunting
trip (he claims).  He had $7,000 in cash on him.  The drug dogs reacted
to a substance on the cash, which is considered sufficient evidence of
intent, and the cash was siezed.  It turns out that cash siezed in such
transactions is turned back into general circulation without any kind
of cleaning!  Therefore, _anybody_ could be holding cash tainted by
previous holders turned over to law agencies in legitimate (?)
confiscations.

At least in Oklahoma, any cash one carries could be at risk of seizure.
-- 
mark@DRD.Com 
mark@jnoc.go.jp    $B!J%^!<%/!!!&%m!<%l%s%9!K(B