I can't wait for the American Greed episode of Steve Lehto after the implosion of his Kickstarter causing him to move on to Harder Grifts. God I hope Walter Stacy Keach lives long enough to narrate that!
Civil asset forfeiture was unconstitutional from its very inception. The US Constitution specifically bars this type of government confiscation scheme, with zero exceptions.
@@burkebreathed9139, they could re-rule a different way. The court has changed rulings over the years. But a good case needs to be brought up to the court. Time will tell.
If I were a juror on this case I would award the highest dollar amount I possibly could. Give the man 300 million. Give him a billion. Do something to send a message to this criminal government.
The problem that I hand with this response to the problem is that it is all paid with OUR tax money that was stolen from us at the point of a gun. The individuals and the departments involved will learn nothing, receive no real punishment and the cycle will continue.
These kinds of cases make my blood boil. If we carry our money in plain sight it will be taken by criminals and if we conceal our money it will be taken by law enforcement. How, exactly, are we supposed to carry our money?
The fact that it is effectively illegal to carry around "too much cash" is a very bad precedent. This actually hurts people on public assistance very badly. I've paid my rent and car payment using cash from EBT. I can't run that card as a regular debit card so to use it anywhere except the grocery store I have to pull out cash. Being poor and driving on an expired registration while carrying my rent in cash made me sweat bullets.
Just curious not trying to be specific to this poster asking this as a general question- Isn't EBT food stamps, for food only? Is it actually ok to spend it on rent and car payments? I have never been in a position to make use of EBT so I don't know.
Oh, my heart BLEEDS. Geez, you're sucking on the taxpayer's teats for YOUR living expenses. I EARN the money that I pay my rent and car payment with. If you're THAT worried about Uncle Sam or any LEO seizing what little currency you like have on your person, get a loadable VISA debit card. They don't cost THAT much. Geez, the taxpayers gotta wipe your ass also?
@@ronaldhudson169- If you have minor children, the same agency that issues SNAP program (EBT) can offer cash assistance which you can use for certain things. They load the cash onto the same EBT card.
Surely the fact that the DEA offered to return 90% of the funding is an outright admission that either there is no legal case for forfeiture, or alternatively they as an agency are prepared to be complicit in drug dealing?
The DEA loves drugs. They make so much both by smuggling it in themselves, allowing certain groups to do it if they pay protection and arresting the ones who won't pay their protection. If we demand the government follow the constitution and stop the illegal prohibition we would empty 90% of the prison population over night and bankrupt multiple criminal organizations.
“When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.”-Bastiat.
@1717jbs ... You, sir, deserve recognition! Lorsque la Spoliation est devenue le moyen d’existence d’une agglomération d’hommes unis entre eux par le lien social, ils se font bientôt une loi qui la sanctionne, une morale qui la glorifie.
By declaring funds as “suspicion of drug trafficking” as part of “the war on drugs” they feel they can fund themselves without accountability to the public.
@@zatoth13 The war on drugs & war on terror are simply wars on people and individual freedom, marketed as solutions to the very problems they themselves cause. This is why people don't trust law enforcement or the ones who write the laws.
@@Angelsbliss818 people need to petition and lean on their lawmakers. If your state has direct ballot measures, start organizing people to get this on one.
There are no laws limiting nor prohibiting the amount of money anyone can have or carry...therefore there is no excuse solely on that basis for this unreasonable tyrannical and criminal misconduct . Period .
@@michaeldurrett8388 True~ *however* since they settled; *technicaly* a Precedent was not set :( ^ at least thats how i've understood it from what Mr. Lehto said/has-said. + what little i know about Precedence :) (feel free to set me straight!)
@@glytchd And that brings up a pet peeve of mine: There's no just reason to allow settlement agreements that enable the defendant to claim there was no wrongdoing.
@@michaeldurrett8388 IMO, THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PRECEDENT REQUIREMENT! PERIOD! It doesn't matter if it's the first time, LAW IS THE LAW! AND CAF IS CLEARLY AGAINST THE LAW!
@@michaeldurrett8388 It sets a precedents for nothing because the only way he got his money back was by finding a way around the civil forfeiture of the DEA by using the TSA. It did not directly attack the civil forfeiture. He also did not get compensated for the damages for lost work.
Steve, you mis-spoke. You said that TSA officers have a history of collaborating with the DEA. The word you meant to say was, "conspiring." That's what co-conspirators do.
@@grumpysteelman How was I incorrect? As for my name, imagine having a name that every digital device insists on correcting incorrectly! I've been dealing with that since autocorrect was invented!
@@ScottGrammer - because he didn’t mis-speak. He just used a different word than you would have liked. col·lab·o·rate /kəˈlabəˌrāt/ verb work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something. As far as the name, forgive me for taking the piss, couldn’t resist. 👍🏻
The Tsa has over-stepped it's bounds here. They are not cops, their job is just security, not law enforcement. And that's why this guy won his case. Congratulations to you sir and great job Steve!
If they just called the DEA after finding out about the cash, they actually didn't sized the cash themselves, the DEA did. And nothing bar agencies to cooperate between each other, the problem is not here anyway but is at the root cause of the seizure.
The fact that they can keep your money without charging you is the part that's really messed up. I can understand seizing a large sum of money if they suspect wrongdoing BUT if they never file charges or that person is found innocent in court then that money should be returned, immediately! The same goes for ANY legal item that is taken by the authorities for any reason.
>I can understand seizing a large sum of money if they suspect wrongdoing Mentality like that is what got this all going. It's the same with all kinds of legal idiocy, like Patriot Act etc. Where good people want good things and approve of laws that are used by people to make careers like prosecutors and cops to earn career point. This is why people really need to understand that no law which can be used to wrong someone or twisted and bended should ever be accepted. I don't care what it is. Also don't forget that these most screwed up laws are always sold to the public with the same arguments. Think of the children, tough on crime whatever. I've got a rule of thumb. Any time the government mentions "think of the children" I become extra curious about how that law could be used against innocent people, and in 99% of the time you can spot the flaw right away.
You hit the nail on the head. I hope more people win lawsuits like this. There is a non profit legal firm that helps fight the cases. Institute for Justice or Liberty Institute I think
Great news… being net +2k still doesnt make it a win, since it stifled his ability to make a living and all the time wasted. He is still in the negative financially versus if this never happened
This is a major Win. Believe me, I understand why it might not seem like it. However, this is a fantastic outcome considering the system we currently have.
@@jasonwebb6885 Our systems resemble that of Rome, not Athens. The Greek principles of Ethics, Morality, Civility, Humanity , Fairness, and Equal Accountability are not pillars in our Roman Style Judicial System. Originally, they were supposed to be. The founders intended for a Greek style system to Govern and assist society. However, just as the founders predicted, such a system would not last very long. The Civil War destroyed the Greek system and replaced it with the Roman system.
I bet the TSA agents get a finders fee from the DEA from any money they tip the DEA to, and the government, and both agencies DO NOT WANT this to become public knowledge, which is one of the reasons they wanted this case to go away. Maybe that’s why the DEA offered 90% back: because they already had given the TSA agent or agents their 10%.
Last time I flew to Florida going through TSA body scanner , they started roughly patting me down. Even though I told them I had a ostomy bag, and it was almost full of liquid 💩. I pulled my shirt up enough so that they could see the top of bag and intestines, and there’s a plastic clamp to drain it with . By being so rough I was worried that if he knocked it loose it’s going to be bad! At this point I warned him that if he causes the clamp to come loose he’s going to have a problem ! Because I’ve tried to explain all of it to you I’m not going to be nice afterwards. I wasn’t thinking about it or I would have found a bathroom and emptied it before hand!
Man this is a beautiful story, I love that he was able to get everything back and extra. The attorney was very creative and I hope this opens the path to more cases where people can get there money back and extra for damages.
@@DonFahquidmi But, it was a settlement agreement rather than a judge ruling so can't site a court case. Still, if someone gets their cash ceased by TSA and they know about this case and can point it out to the TSA agents they may be able to get a similar quick settlement the maybe some benefit.
Lack of probable cause for a seizure (Fourth Amendment violation), not "civil" asset forfeture. TSA seens power drunk. Does TSA get a kickback from DEA's seizures of cash?
Steve, I think this is a really great story, and I'm glad that the guy got his money back with interest. The problem, as I see it, is the fact that the agents involved were not personally punished for stealing his money in the first place. As long as there is no personal accountability for the agents, and their bosses, involved in the seizure, and as long as there is qualified immunity, this practice will continue. Government tyrants will continue to steal people's money and property because they have no personal incentive to stop. As long as there's no personal accountability on the part of the government agents involved, it is the taxpayers who will be footing the bill for their crimes.
What the US needs is what many countries in Europe have. It's called accountability of a government official. It means that any government official that breaks the law knowingly or in a way where it can be assumed they should know, will personally be responsible for the actions. This puts them into a situation of personal risk in all they do, making them more often go the lenient way rather than the asshole way. It makes them double check what they do and not just go haywire based on their own emotions. Sadly even in Europe some countries have done away with it, due to governments not wanting to be responsible. Some countries like Finland still do have it and it's used frequently. Quote from the Finnish Gov's english explanation of it. "Public servants are subject to liability for acts in office, which means that they are subject to stricter and more extensive legal liability for their acts as public servants and the consequences of the acts. If public servants neglect their official duties or acts in violation of them, they may be considered criminally liable. In addition to an authority, individual public servants are also liable for the damages that have resulted from their errors or negligence." "Public servants may not misuse their powers. Furthermore, they may not receive economic benefits that might negatively impact their independence as office holders." "When not at work, public servants may engage in societal and political activities and take part in the work of associations and organisations. However, they are also public servants when not at work: Also in their private life, they must conduct themselves in such a manner that citizens’ trust in them or in the authorities that they represent is not put at risk."
@@NorthernContrarian At one time we had a system where a public official could be held personally accountable, unfortunately we no longer do. Hopefully the people of our country will decide that enough is enough and correct this problem.
remove qualified immunity from those responsible and watch a lot crap like this stop: the individual has to pay out of their own pocket, long as taxpayers pay it will never stop
@@NorthernContrarian the US has the same accountability laws you describe. The issue is often proving there was “clearly established” legal precedent which relates to the specific questionable action in a similar specific scenario. You’ll often hear this referred to as “Qualified Immunity”, which is the legal defense against the accountability laws. The European law sounds very similar.
Maybe not the agent personally (though I would not rule it out), but I guarantee the local TSA office received something for their slush fund, and the agent got a "gold star" for the find, which helps in the annual review for promotions and raises. So, yeah, the agent benefited either directly or indirectly. Otherwise, why would he care?
I had no idea state sanctioned piracy happened in the U.S. until I found your channel. It was an interesting twist when they wanted to convert it from grand larceny to a bribe---they have no shame!
stuff like this is sickening : many youtube videos like that > DEA Gives Former Marine Back $86900 Cops Took > many many more such highway robbery by police > Texas man is suing the Nevada Highway Patrol after they seized his life savings of nearly $87,000 during a February traffic stop.
I wish the judge would jail the thieves but I'm past the point of believing the solutions will be found via politics. When the soap box and the voting box both fail then we need to turn to the ammo box.
He would have if they didn’t settle. Had this gone to a trial, the DEA would have lost and the jury might have awarded hundreds of thousands or even millions. This is why the judge suggested they settle.
A little fan fiction: Court case proceeds. Lawyer calls DEA agent to the stand. "You live at x-y-z street in DEA-town, correct?" "Yes." "You benefitted from CAF, did you not?" "Yes." "Right now, police are executing a seizure warrant on your house, which is the proceeds of stolen money. You are now homeless. Your bank account has been seized, you are penniless. Indeed, please hand over your watch, wallet, and keys, to the bailiff. None of those things are yours any more. Also, your shoes, and your suit. Come on, these things are now the property of the county."
Gov: "How can we get more money if all our legal and valid routes are ran dry? Oh I know, lets just steal it from innocent citizens!" Judges who know the laws and constitution: "You may want to reconsider..."
You might want to replace the words "know the laws" to follow and enforce the law. I'm pretty sure that there are all too many that know but would side with the DEA and TSA when it comes to applying the law, unfortunately.
I have said this before, but why is it that people who travel with large sums of cash, do not have that money put into travelers checks?! If they are lost or "STOLEN", like with the police agencies, or government agencies, you can go to a branch of the issuing bank, and and have them replaced. If they seize those travelers checks, refuse to sign them! When you get to your destination, go to a branch of the issuing bank, and tell them they were stolen, and get them reissued. If the thieves that stole them try to cash them by forging your signature, you now have them for forgery!
Steve I was going to ask the same question, If the Judge didn't rule, then there is no precedent set for future cases, even though it was a win, in settlement.
@@Bobs-Wrigles5555 he wanted less waste of court time which is the right thing to do. If you can settle, settle. Otherwise it will just be appealed again and again and again and again while the guy didn't have his money. Also given that this case was mainly on the TSA overstepping their authority in the finding of the money, I doubt a precedent judgement would be that useful. Most CAF cases are on law agencies doing what they normally do.
I've said it on here before that for this action, a "RICO" statute lawsuit (criminal, or civil) was warranted due to the conspiratorial nature of the collaboration between the 2 agencies. good to hear that someone is finally taking these 2, governmental, criminal agencies to task for their activities against the people.....
That RICO was instituted by RFK and that's enough to get rid of it. (OUTDATED). If you got file it. If you don't get lost. In 10 days or less the IRS would have figured all about the 💰 money.
Before I started watching your show, I didn't know that Civil Asset Forfeiture was a thing. And then it happened to my wife's cousin when he went to buy a car. He ended up getting half his money back from the theifs, I mean the cops. The public needs to be educated about this unconscionable practice that's allowed. The more people know about this, the higher the likelihood that it'll be abolished or atleast better regulated.
A friend of mine was traveling to Seattle with $150,000 to pay his deceased wife’s hospital bill. TSA alerted DEA and they tried to seize his money but he insisted that if they were going to take the money they would have to arrest him. Inexplicably, they all backed down and let him and his money go.
I can't thank you enough Steve for continuing to pound this subject home to people. As you put it we all see that the king has no clothes, and we are tired if the governments lies. Keep it up Steve.
When law enforcement leadership allows this kind of behavior, it's concerning. When our judges allow this kind of thing to happen, it tells me our government has become drastically corrupt to the point that it doesn't even try to hide it. Good to see there are still a small number of good judges left though.
A $15,000 settlement???? Totally awesome and totally not enough. It should be AT LEAST the amount seized. The government needs a strong incentive to AVOID bogus seizures. Better yet, the entire practice is illegal. I hate our courts because they cannot be bothered to follow the constitution.
As a recovering heroin addict 10 years this year i agree. I think my criminal record has ruined my life far more than my battle with drug addiction. I am still getting turned down from jobs when the last time i had been in any trouble was 2012. Apparently I can expunge my record next year. Probably at the cost of thousands of dollars. Not to mention I am a Christian and live in Colorado now but this all happened in Massachusetts. Apparently there was a mistake entering something in the system and I am not allowed on base with the chaplain due to this clerical error that according to the military base actually states that there was no resolution and looks like I have open warrants from 2012 which I do not. I should be able to sue them for Making like a living hell. But I always just say it’s my own fault for making poor decisions. Now I’m beginning to think it’s not entirely my fault.
@@Shhways I'm in the same boat. Kind of. Recovered for 5 years now. Fortunately I never got any charges. I hope it all keeps getting better on your job quest.
@@frankney8284 laughable. That the agency that causes so much trouble, and (at least for a time) assaulted anyone that cam their way, including Legislators, encourages anonymity while not on duty. Yea, they KNOW they are doing wrong, or they wouldn't advocate simple acts to protect their minions from the General Public.
@@frankney8284 TSA, apparently, doesn't realise that the safest passenger on the flight is the one with $69,000 in cash. If they fail at this point, flights are not as safe as we are led to believe. ua-cam.com/video/yR2lgxy-htU/v-deo.html TSA should be disbanded!
Is that a Chrysler Turbine car model on the book case? I believe it is, I'm so surprised to see that model on a lawyers bookshelf. The world needs more men like you fighting for rights. Thank you for the service you provide.
Rodrigues vs US said that the police can't extended the traffic stop without reasonable suspicion. Might be able to use that if the officer starts asking questions not related to the traffic stop. Like do you have money?
Best thing to do at a traffic stop is when officer asks if you know why they're stopping you simply hand them your license , registration and insurance then say from here on out I will be exercising my right to remain silent . Some will argue against giving them license , registration and insurance but it sets up your case before a jury . Basically you didn't hinder the officer in anyway in regards to the stop and anything from that point forward the jury weighs in your favor because your lawyer can argue that you were cooperative and tried to expedite the officers job by not hindering the officer with small talk . Arguing with an officer is pointless so just have your cell phone camera running and better yet if possible have it live broadcasting so you'll have witnesses as well .
It would be interesting to find out how many times the DEA seized cash at airports as opposed to how often they don't when they're tipped off by the TSA. I bet it's well above 75% of the time.
That man was a legend! Not everyone who experience that does the same thing. Sadly, one of the most affected people here are landlords. They rent out their properties, not expecting that tenants turn it into a drug hub or something. It's unfortunate and this law should be amended.
What about if this happen while being driving, I've seen a video where a truck was pulled over and they found $8K cash on him and the driver was saying he was on his way to buy a used car but the police force still kept the money
I heard of a young man who was working as a part of a Christian worship music group who was visiting the US from Thailand, who was carrying ALL of the groups money (around $20-30,000) and the cops took it after they pulled him over for a minor traffic infraction. I don’t know if they ever got their money back-it may have been substantially more than that, it’s been a long time, but it’s heartbreaking and devastating to have this happen.
It HAPPENS in many different ways to many different people on many different days so that WE do not see the pattern. Designed and intended to keep the entire human race confused and struggling...
Are we becoming a Banana Republic? My nephew was mentally tortured to confess to killing his little sister. Over the course of 5 days, the cops took video of 40 hours. He was 15.
@@jillcrowe2626 that is illegal. We have to understand our rights. Children should be instructed by their parents to NEVER consent to be questioned by police…and we adults shouldn’t either. We MUST have an attorney. We have a for-profit prison system, and cops get bonuses and promotions if they can charge a person with a crime-and UP-CHARGE when possible. It is now also common practice to keep people in jails (where conditions are often much worse than prisons as they originally were intended to be short term stays)…people are being kept in jail for months to years and then pressured to take a plea rather than go to trial.
@@jillcrowe2626 I failed to say how sorry I am that happened to your family. It’s cruel, evil and abusive. I pray he can find the grace to heal from the trauma.
Yeah. And biblically we are still to "submit to the government, because a good person will not be harmed by officials", or to that extent Paul writes. Mmmhhh...
It seems like he should also have sued for slander as well. The removal of his money wuold leave questions in others minds that well maybe, and that question could impact his future chance at projects to make a living.
DEA: "Our last and best offer. We return 90% of the money and keep 10". Corbitt: "We demand 100%, and you can keep the remaining 0%.". Sometimes I use similar language when I can't come to an agreement with somebody trying to sell something. "OK, tell you what. You, hang on to the merchandise, and I'll hold on to the money". It's so satisfying to see the look on their faces when they realize, usually after a beat or two, that their sale just walked out the door.
Extortion and threats wow the DEA really learned well from the MOB. Great someone finally wins hopefully and more are coming, then judges get this is so wrong on so many levels.
@chuck 8094 Government For and By the people appears to be a lost concept at this point. How did we get to here i must wonder? Because when Good people do nothing, Evil takes over! This is NOT the nation our Founding Fathers envisioned I suspect!
I like how they can say 'you have money for bad things' then say 'we will give you 90% of the money back to use for bad things'. I know he was not using it for bad things but that's the implication if you settle, a black mark on your file.
We're starting to see and hear about more of these cases where the little guy wins. But what about interest? A great way to make money, seize cash, deposit it or invest it, pay it back and pocket the earnings, they still win. It looks like the courts are realizing how ridiculous it is that civil asset forfeiture laws are being misused. Theoretically the police/FBI/etc could stop anyone at any time and seize any cash they may be carrying, no matter how much or how little.
Because the govt has taken it too far. Notice, thus guy was shocked to learn what the govt can do to him. Before this, he probably would have sided with the govt..doing this to another person..
Or can other government agencies seize the DEA funds because by their own account that money is the product of or is going to be used to fund criminal activity. That's why they took it in the first place right.
Smart strategy to the situation. Thank you for recognizing the name of the attorney several times. Hopefully will earn him much respect, and increased business to these matters. As well as, raising awareness to MORE attorney strategies!!...Great work Steve!
Although I am happy that the gentleman received all of his mo.returned all of his money plus punitive damages to punish them for violating this mans rights
Thats the government, extorting folks. Who gets this money? Because the actions of what should be “disinterested parties” makes it appear they are awarded bonuses or something like that over fighting for money that can get legally accounted for.
Fun fact Aretha Franklin early on was siffed for a show and after that was paid in cash prior to every show she performed. What more she would have pockets sown into her dresses to hold it during the show. Towards the end of her career she would have been singing RESPECT with close to $100,000 in hundreds wrapped around her body. Lesson, never trust a producer/booking agent you don't know. Contracts are good, cash (half up front, half upon completion) way better.
My favourite how rubbish is showbiz story, chuck Berry would get paid in cash before the show he would place the cash in an attache case and wind his guitar lead through the handles, then he'd know if he was being robbed again.
@@sd906238 Gold and silver have been money for thousands of years. Government issued paper currency is lucky to last more than a few decades, and even if it does last that long, it's losing value year after year.
@@TheBooban "you win $15k more than they seized," - not necessarily, it was a settlement in this case only. Perhaps no settlement and suit continues in other cases or would come to a different settlement. However, I'm sure this lawyer's reasoning will be cited in future airport CAF cases.
Many years ago there was either a 60 Minutes segment or 20/20 segment that talked about the civil forfeiture where money was being seized in airports. One of the situations was in which ticket agents would get bounties bounties from the feds to report people carrying large sums of cash when they bought their tickets.
Money is not a person, and therefore cannot be guilty of a crime. That needs to be the basis of a defense, and it needs to be appealed all the way to the supreme court if necessary.
I am not sure I would categorize this as a “great result “, as basically he was made whole…however what about the lose to his business, delaying his film, inconvenienced, damaged his credibility… Really what happened here…they stole his money, played the odds of having to give it back, used taxpayers money to take a innocent man to court to fight for money they were not entitled to…what the deterrent here 🤔 The deterrent IF any, was that the man won’t carry cash as he has a right to do…so in part the government won, as they now are bullying a citizen into quashing his constitutional rights. A great win, imho, the lawyer would’ve been paid and punitive action would’ve been applied to the agencies, $20k to the victim and lawyers fees paid would’ve been more of a decent win..but still not great.
Not entirely whole either - he lost 8 months of projects he could have worked on, and didn't even get the interest that money would have generated during that time. Consider that the government has lawyers on their payroll and this doesn't actually cost them anything for legal fees on their side, so the government has technically still come out ahead here - albeit not by all that much. But there's still no penalty sufficient to discourage further attempts to do exactly the same thing, especially since it was eventually settled in mediation, so there's no precedent for future judges to follow.
The TSA has a long way to go to earn my trust and this doesn't help one bit. My daughter and I were traveling a number of years ago, she was about 9 and is 22 now. We were eating lunch in a lounge and could see the TSA line. They were pulling any woman above 75 out of line for extra screening. After the fifth one my daughter said, "Do those police hate grandmothers?" That's one hell of an observation by a child. I think it was likely the agents were amusing themselves or had a bet going. Seriously... They seemed to be having fun.
Steve, This was a great video. Asset forfeiture is a big problem, as are Public Officials that are tasked with upholding the Law who then break the Law. This is also a good reason that some people hate the police. Asset Forfeiture highlights but one instance where US Law is clearly Wrong. I commend you for shining the light on the unfair and Unconstitutional practice of Asset Forfeiture. It is for Attorneys to speak up where the LAW is wrong, or is misapplied. Shame on the Government Attorneys who defended a perversion of the Law that they well know is Wrong. Lawyers may see this case as a debate on the nuances and the validity of the Forfeiture Laws; laymen see this as a clear case of “Right vs. Wrong”. For the “Laws” of a free Nation to be respected these laws must accurately reflect “right and wrong”. So many times in any Nation’s history there are cases where Laws are not Right or Just. Here in the USA examples are: Civil Rights, Suffrage of women, Internment of US citizens during WW2, treaties with Native Americans, archaic and inconsistent enforcement of drug laws, mass incarceration of nonviolent offenders, etc., etc. When a Nation’s Laws are unjust or are perverted it is the first necessary step towards an Authoritarian State where the Laws serve the State and not the People. See Russia and China.
He doesn't want it to go to SCOTUS where the case gets overturned for political reasons and then illegal search and seizure gets codified in law. Our highest court is corrupt. MAKE SCOTUS ELECTED, NOT APPOINTED.
@@Mavendow That's going to make it worse... anyone who has the drive to succeed in an election has an agenda. Supreme court justices should only have the agenda of ensuring whatever law is questioned is or is not constitutional.
You know you have a good lawyer if he's known as "trouble maker" glad he got his money back and another step closer to getting rid of this horrible thing the government does
When the DoJ started to dig into his bank account they are required to have a warrant to do it. I would be interested in seeing the affidavits that supported them getting a warrant, if they in fact got one. I agree that this is great news for him, but I don’t necessarily agree that it is great news for everyone. Since they reached a settlement then there is no precedent being set. That is what needs to happen in order for this to be great news for all. He was extremely fortunate to have gotten that Judge, but not all are required to be so understanding.
Love the win And it’s sad that In 2021 I have to say that ! Hope the law gets changed. We the people have the collective power to implement change. Maybe I step at a time !!
Send the DEA a legal notice that explains the terms of your _loan_ to the government and including your interest rates for your loan, which should probably be like 25% per annum or higher.
This guy should make a movie/documentary on this.
I can't wait for the American Greed episode of Steve Lehto after the implosion of his Kickstarter causing him to move on to Harder Grifts.
God I hope Walter Stacy Keach lives long enough to narrate that!
@@chrissinclair4442
What are you saying, exactly?
@@chrissinclair4442 I'm sure that made sense in your head.
He doesn't have enough money to make the movie, because the crooks stole it. Irony or something.
I agree 100 % just in time for mid term elections
Civil asset forfeiture was unconstitutional from its very inception. The US Constitution specifically bars this type of government confiscation scheme, with zero exceptions.
95% of federal laws are unconsitutional.
Then the US supreme court needs to take up the issue and stop it.
@@johnpopoff7950 the Supreme Court is as corrupt as these cops, and has already ruled that civil asset forfeiture is legal.
@@johnpopoff7950 The Supreme Court ruled it is legal.
@@burkebreathed9139, they could re-rule a different way. The court has changed rulings over the years. But a good case needs to be brought up to the court. Time will tell.
If I were a juror on this case I would award the highest dollar amount I possibly could. Give the man 300 million. Give him a billion. Do something to send a message to this criminal government.
Yes! 👍
The problem that I hand with this response to the problem is that it is all paid with OUR tax money that was stolen from us at the point of a gun. The individuals and the departments involved will learn nothing, receive no real punishment and the cycle will continue.
These kinds of cases make my blood boil. If we carry our money in plain sight it will be taken by criminals and if we conceal our money it will be taken by law enforcement. How, exactly, are we supposed to carry our money?
The first group are criminals the second group are terrorist
On a Card so in A Bank. A Federal Institution who gains from holding said money.
And can sieze it still
You aren't supposed to have money!
Control of the money is control of the population!
The FATF want every transaction to go through intermediaries. To prevent crime, you see, and not at all to protect banking institutions.
The fact that it is effectively illegal to carry around "too much cash" is a very bad precedent. This actually hurts people on public assistance very badly. I've paid my rent and car payment using cash from EBT. I can't run that card as a regular debit card so to use it anywhere except the grocery store I have to pull out cash. Being poor and driving on an expired registration while carrying my rent in cash made me sweat bullets.
Just curious not trying to be specific to this poster asking this as a general question- Isn't EBT food stamps, for food only? Is it actually ok to spend it on rent and car payments? I have never been in a position to make use of EBT so I don't know.
Oh, my heart BLEEDS. Geez, you're sucking on the taxpayer's teats for YOUR living expenses. I EARN the money that I pay my rent and car payment with. If you're THAT worried about Uncle Sam or any LEO seizing what little currency you like have on your person, get a loadable VISA debit card. They don't cost THAT much. Geez, the taxpayers gotta wipe your ass also?
@@ronaldhudson169- If you have minor children, the same agency that issues SNAP program (EBT) can offer cash assistance which you can use for certain things. They load the cash onto the same EBT card.
@@ronaldhudson169I know there are at least two types. Standard food stamps and child assistance for new mothers. I am unsure of other types.
Surely the fact that the DEA offered to return 90% of the funding is an outright admission that either there is no legal case for forfeiture, or alternatively they as an agency are prepared to be complicit in drug dealing?
I guess 10% in taxes haha
The DEA loves drugs. They make so much both by smuggling it in themselves, allowing certain groups to do it if they pay protection and arresting the ones who won't pay their protection. If we demand the government follow the constitution and stop the illegal prohibition we would empty 90% of the prison population over night and bankrupt multiple criminal organizations.
@@cult_of_odin the only cause (and control thereof) of ANY "black" market is the government.
@@J1WE That was my point, why is ok for the government to give back 90% if its dirty money?
10% for the big guy .
“When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.”-Bastiat.
EXCELLENT QUOTE !!!....Sadly, it seems to apply itself to more and more govt. actions lately.
I love it!
@1717jbs ... You, sir, deserve recognition!
Lorsque la Spoliation est devenue le moyen d’existence d’une agglomération d’hommes unis entre eux par le lien social, ils se font bientôt une loi qui la sanctionne, une morale qui la glorifie.
By declaring funds as “suspicion of drug trafficking” as part of “the war on drugs” they feel they can fund themselves without accountability to the public.
@@zatoth13 The war on drugs & war on terror are simply wars on people and individual freedom, marketed as solutions to the very problems they themselves cause. This is why people don't trust law enforcement or the ones who write the laws.
There should have been punitive damages awarded much more than 15k that's almost like a free pass to the govt.
Yeah more like 70k
100%
They settled, so the punitive part doesn't happen.
More sure, only if it comes outta their pockets not the taxpayer
They should have to pay punitive damages everytime they do this.
Steve - please don't stop covering these cases. The more attention we give to them, the better chance we have of reforming these insane laws.
I have a good case but can't find a lawyer.
How can we change this if we have no right to an Attorney to fight it? So Unconstitutional.
@@Angelsbliss818 people need to petition and lean on their lawmakers. If your state has direct ballot measures, start organizing people to get this on one.
Thinking outside the box is wonderful when it comes to law.
Institute for Justice might be a place where you can reach out to.
There are no laws limiting nor prohibiting the amount of money anyone can have or carry...therefore there is no excuse solely on that basis for this unreasonable tyrannical and criminal misconduct . Period .
Laws are laughed at. All those involved know exactly what they're doing, and when their theft is exposed, they give you and I a big wet raspberry.
As long as these victories depend on which judge presides and how creative your lawyer is, then nothing has changed.
Not necessarily. It starts a precedent and gives a case someone can cite. Gotta start somewhere...
@@michaeldurrett8388 True~ *however* since they settled; *technicaly* a Precedent was not set :(
^ at least thats how i've understood it from what Mr. Lehto said/has-said. + what little i know about Precedence :) (feel free to set me straight!)
@@glytchd And that brings up a pet peeve of mine: There's no just reason to allow settlement agreements that enable the defendant to claim there was no wrongdoing.
@@michaeldurrett8388 IMO, THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PRECEDENT REQUIREMENT! PERIOD!
It doesn't matter if it's the first time, LAW IS THE LAW! AND CAF IS CLEARLY AGAINST THE LAW!
@@michaeldurrett8388 It sets a precedents for nothing because the only way he got his money back was by finding a way around the civil forfeiture of the DEA by using the TSA. It did not directly attack the civil forfeiture. He also did not get compensated for the damages for lost work.
I love how the lawyer calls himself a " professional troublemaker" that's the kinda lawyer that's gets stuff done.
That's the kinda lawyer that get continuously harassed by the state. They're just looking for a reason to take him down.
@@sjuas690 that's the kind of lawyer we all might need.
Facts matter
Steve, you mis-spoke. You said that TSA officers have a history of collaborating with the DEA. The word you meant to say was, "conspiring." That's what co-conspirators do.
Collaborating during WWI was what they called working with the enemy.
Scott - shouldn’t your last name be Grammar? No? If you’re going to incorrectly correct others then I guess Grammer is more appropriate.😂
@@grumpysteelman How was I incorrect? As for my name, imagine having a name that every digital device insists on correcting incorrectly! I've been dealing with that since autocorrect was invented!
@@yadayada752 That's true. But the TSA and the DEA are on the same side.
@@ScottGrammer - because he didn’t mis-speak. He just used a different word than you would have liked.
col·lab·o·rate
/kəˈlabəˌrāt/
verb
work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something.
As far as the name, forgive me for taking the piss, couldn’t resist. 👍🏻
Bless that man for willing to go through what he had to go through for the rest of us
We need more good lawyers like this.
The Tsa has over-stepped it's bounds here. They are not cops, their job is just security, not law enforcement. And that's why this guy won his case. Congratulations to you sir and great job Steve!
If they just called the DEA after finding out about the cash, they actually didn't sized the cash themselves, the DEA did. And nothing bar agencies to cooperate between each other, the problem is not here anyway but is at the root cause of the seizure.
They're co-conspirators!
The fact that they can keep your money without charging you is the part that's really messed up. I can understand seizing a large sum of money if they suspect wrongdoing BUT if they never file charges or that person is found innocent in court then that money should be returned, immediately! The same goes for ANY legal item that is taken by the authorities for any reason.
That money should be returned with accrued interest and triple damages.
You legal beagle cop lovers forget the true problem, there is no reason in the first place to even touch anyones money, stop loving the pigs
>I can understand seizing a large sum of money if they suspect wrongdoing
Mentality like that is what got this all going. It's the same with all kinds of legal idiocy, like Patriot Act etc. Where good people want good things and approve of laws that are used by people to make careers like prosecutors and cops to earn career point. This is why people really need to understand that no law which can be used to wrong someone or twisted and bended should ever be accepted. I don't care what it is. Also don't forget that these most screwed up laws are always sold to the public with the same arguments. Think of the children, tough on crime whatever. I've got a rule of thumb. Any time the government mentions "think of the children" I become extra curious about how that law could be used against innocent people, and in 99% of the time you can spot the flaw right away.
@@NorthernContrarian exactly
@@NorthernContrarian This one can see! :)
These actions by our government are absolutely outrageous. Thank you, Steve, for continuing to shine a light on this.
You hit the nail on the head. I hope more people win lawsuits like this. There is a non profit legal firm that helps fight the cases. Institute for Justice or Liberty Institute I think
That is a win for that citizen and his lawyer AND American society ❣️
Great news… being net +2k still doesnt make it a win, since it stifled his ability to make a living and all the time wasted. He is still in the negative financially versus if this never happened
This is a major Win. Believe me, I understand why it might not seem like it. However, this is a fantastic outcome considering the system we currently have.
@@Veritas-invenitur yeah, but the guy said he would no longer carry that much cash, so the government still wins.
@@Veritas-invenitur I get what you’re saying, but to me, when a travesty is considered a win, that just makes it a double travesty
@@i2rtw Ultimately, the government never actually looses. The Government simply allow you to loose less.
@@jasonwebb6885 Our systems resemble that of Rome, not Athens. The Greek principles of Ethics, Morality, Civility, Humanity , Fairness, and Equal Accountability are not pillars in our Roman Style Judicial System. Originally, they were supposed to be. The founders intended for a Greek style system to Govern and assist society. However, just as the founders predicted, such a system would not last very long. The Civil War destroyed the Greek system and replaced it with the Roman system.
I bet the TSA agents get a finders fee from the DEA from any money they tip the DEA to, and the government, and both agencies DO NOT WANT this to become public knowledge, which is one of the reasons they wanted this case to go away. Maybe that’s why the DEA offered 90% back: because they already had given the TSA agent or agents their 10%.
Another reason to "pop a smurf."
You mean a kickback? Because it sure sounds like that to me!
BINGO....
or knew it would cost more than 7 grand to sue so it was free money.
"..trusting the person with a badge..."
Your first mistake.
Cops are just like other people. Some are honest; some are criminals.
@@kfphillips1 The difference is, "other people" can't usually ruin your life, or even TAKE IT, all to often with impunity.
Last time I flew to Florida going through TSA body scanner , they started roughly patting me down. Even though I told them I had a ostomy bag, and it was almost full of liquid 💩. I pulled my shirt up enough so that they could see the top of bag and intestines, and there’s a plastic clamp to drain it with . By being so rough I was worried that if he knocked it loose it’s going to be bad! At this point I warned him that if he causes the clamp to come loose he’s going to have a problem ! Because I’ve tried to explain all of it to you I’m not going to be nice afterwards. I wasn’t thinking about it or I would have found a bathroom and emptied it before hand!
Very sorry this happened.
you should lodge a complaint that is NOT cool
movie or documentary should be made about this and should be on PBS!!!👍
Man this is a beautiful story, I love that he was able to get everything back and extra. The attorney was very creative and I hope this opens the path to more cases where people can get there money back and extra for damages.
Best thing! Because this is a Federal Case, it may provide a citable precident for all future cases... even state and local.
@@DonFahquidmi But, it was a settlement agreement rather than a judge ruling so can't site a court case. Still, if someone gets their cash ceased by TSA and they know about this case and can point it out to the TSA agents they may be able to get a similar quick settlement the maybe some benefit.
He wasn't awarded enough!
Lack of probable cause for a seizure (Fourth Amendment violation), not "civil" asset forfeture. TSA seens power drunk. Does TSA get a kickback from DEA's seizures of cash?
@@indigobunting2431 That's a good question. Need someone to make a FOIA request for shared funds or kickback to TSA for DEA seizures.
Steve, I think this is a really great story, and I'm glad that the guy got his money back with interest. The problem, as I see it, is the fact that the agents involved were not personally punished for stealing his money in the first place. As long as there is no personal accountability for the agents, and their bosses, involved in the seizure, and as long as there is qualified immunity, this practice will continue. Government tyrants will continue to steal people's money and property because they have no personal incentive to stop. As long as there's no personal accountability on the part of the government agents involved, it is the taxpayers who will be footing the bill for their crimes.
What the US needs is what many countries in Europe have. It's called accountability of a government official. It means that any government official that breaks the law knowingly or in a way where it can be assumed they should know, will personally be responsible for the actions. This puts them into a situation of personal risk in all they do, making them more often go the lenient way rather than the asshole way. It makes them double check what they do and not just go haywire based on their own emotions. Sadly even in Europe some countries have done away with it, due to governments not wanting to be responsible. Some countries like Finland still do have it and it's used frequently. Quote from the Finnish Gov's english explanation of it.
"Public servants are subject to liability for acts in office, which means that they are subject to stricter and more extensive legal liability for their acts as public servants and the consequences of the acts. If public servants neglect their official duties or acts in violation of them, they may be considered criminally liable. In addition to an authority, individual public servants are also liable for the damages that have resulted from their errors or negligence."
"Public servants may not misuse their powers. Furthermore, they may not receive economic benefits that might negatively impact their independence as office holders."
"When not at work, public servants may engage in societal and political activities and take part in the work of associations and organisations. However, they are also public servants when not at work: Also in their private life, they must conduct themselves in such a manner that citizens’ trust in them or in the authorities that they represent is not put at risk."
This is pretty much true for ALL government officials, thst is why government will always become corrupt.
@@NorthernContrarian At one time we had a system where a public official could be held personally accountable, unfortunately we no longer do. Hopefully the people of our country will decide that enough is enough and correct this problem.
remove qualified immunity from those responsible and watch a lot crap like this stop: the individual has to pay out of their own pocket, long as taxpayers pay it will never stop
@@NorthernContrarian the US has the same accountability laws you describe. The issue is often proving there was “clearly established” legal precedent which relates to the specific questionable action in a similar specific scenario. You’ll often hear this referred to as “Qualified Immunity”, which is the legal defense against the accountability laws. The European law sounds very similar.
I'd be curious to know if the TSA agent got a 'finder's fee' for his part in the theft.
Maybe not the agent personally (though I would not rule it out), but I guarantee the local TSA office received something for their slush fund, and the agent got a "gold star" for the find, which helps in the annual review for promotions and raises. So, yeah, the agent benefited either directly or indirectly. Otherwise, why would he care?
gets a promotion for sure
Probably gets a commission for sure
Never underestimate the power of corruption.
I'd be curious to know if the TSA agent acted on his/her own or if this is TSA policy.
I had no idea state sanctioned piracy happened in the U.S. until I found your channel. It was an interesting twist when they wanted to convert it from grand larceny to a bribe---they have no shame!
stuff like this is sickening : many youtube videos like that > DEA Gives Former Marine Back $86900 Cops Took > many many more such highway robbery by police > Texas man is suing the Nevada Highway Patrol after they seized his life savings of nearly $87,000 during a February traffic stop.
Privateers
as a dutch man i need to say that i like your T-Shirt
My hat comes off for Attorney Corbin and his creative thinking, as well as the plaintiff for sticking to it!
I wish the judge would have awarded a bit more for damaging his business ventures, but this is an amazing outcome. That lawyer earned every cent
I wish the judge would jail the thieves but I'm past the point of believing the solutions will be found via politics. When the soap box and the voting box both fail then we need to turn to the ammo box.
He would have if they didn’t settle. Had this gone to a trial, the DEA would have lost and the jury might have awarded hundreds of thousands or even millions. This is why the judge suggested they settle.
@@bubbajones4522Hello. FBI? Yes, this comment right here.
@@skippythetubrat when tyranny becomes law resistance becomes duty.
@@TacPhoenix and who defines tyrrany?
Activities like this by government officials only further reminds me why I couldn't care less when anything awful befalls them.
A little fan fiction: Court case proceeds. Lawyer calls DEA agent to the stand. "You live at x-y-z street in DEA-town, correct?" "Yes." "You benefitted from CAF, did you not?" "Yes." "Right now, police are executing a seizure warrant on your house, which is the proceeds of stolen money. You are now homeless. Your bank account has been seized, you are penniless. Indeed, please hand over your watch, wallet, and keys, to the bailiff. None of those things are yours any more. Also, your shoes, and your suit. Come on, these things are now the property of the county."
same
The problem is that when something awful befalls the government, it is a cost that is passed onto the taxpayer. The taxpayer is you.
@@jimlovesgina I wasn't referring to something recoverable
Just another reason why I detest TSA. They’re ratting on innocent people to other government agencies. 🤦🏼
The judge should have required the agents that seized the money to wear a sign outside the courthouse for 2 hours that says "I steal citizens money".
Sounds like someone needs to make a movie of this... If only the guy knew somebody....
I tip my hat to the filmmaker and his lawyer. You brought some light to a dark pit of corruption.
Gov: "How can we get more money if all our legal and valid routes are ran dry? Oh I know, lets just steal it from innocent citizens!"
Judges who know the laws and constitution: "You may want to reconsider..."
You might want to replace the words "know the laws" to follow and enforce the law. I'm pretty sure that there are all too many that know but would side with the DEA and TSA when it comes to applying the law, unfortunately.
Once again, you can thank SCOTUS. Worst court ever.
Thanks for another Civil Asset Forfeiture update. Hopefully the filmmaker will make a documentary about it.
I have said this before, but why is it that people who travel with large sums of cash, do not have that money put into travelers checks?! If they are lost or "STOLEN", like with the police agencies, or government agencies, you can go to a branch of the issuing bank, and and have them replaced. If they seize those travelers checks, refuse to sign them! When you get to your destination, go to a branch of the issuing bank, and tell them they were stolen, and get them reissued. If the thieves that stole them try to cash them by forging your signature, you now have them for forgery!
Does the judge's suggestion that "you might want to settle" avoid setting a precedent that could be used in future cases?
Steve I was going to ask the same question, If the Judge didn't rule, then there is no precedent set for future cases, even though it was a win, in settlement.
Exactly! That was the message he was telling the govt. You may lose more than this case.
@@imbalancedstatus8824 When he could have ruled, Set a precedent, And started the ball rolling the right way, a bit of a cop out IMO
@@Bobs-Wrigles5555 he wanted less waste of court time which is the right thing to do. If you can settle, settle. Otherwise it will just be appealed again and again and again and again while the guy didn't have his money.
Also given that this case was mainly on the TSA overstepping their authority in the finding of the money, I doubt a precedent judgement would be that useful. Most CAF cases are on law agencies doing what they normally do.
Excellent point. This seemed like a good case to push all the way through the court system. That of course takes a lot of time and money though.
I've said it on here before that for this action, a "RICO" statute lawsuit (criminal, or civil) was warranted due to the conspiratorial nature of the collaboration between the 2 agencies. good to hear that someone is finally taking these 2, governmental, criminal agencies to task for their activities against the people.....
need police to police the police. another goal kicked for the criminal.
That RICO was instituted by RFK and that's enough to get rid of it. (OUTDATED). If you got file it. If you don't get lost. In 10 days or less the IRS would have figured all about the 💰 money.
Before I started watching your show, I didn't know that Civil Asset Forfeiture was a thing. And then it happened to my wife's cousin when he went to buy a car. He ended up getting half his money back from the theifs, I mean the cops. The public needs to be educated about this unconscionable practice that's allowed. The more people know about this, the higher the likelihood that it'll be abolished or atleast better regulated.
thats what he gets for supporting the police "muh brave heroes" "back the blue" LOL
No, you had it right the first time, thiefs
Thank goodness for judges who follow the law. Wish law enforcement would.
A friend of mine was traveling to Seattle with $150,000 to pay his deceased wife’s hospital bill. TSA alerted DEA and they tried to seize his money but he insisted that if they were going to take the money they would have to arrest him. Inexplicably, they all backed down and let him and his money go.
If this is real I would like to watch a video on this if one exists.
I can't thank you enough Steve for continuing to pound this subject home to people. As you put it we all see that the king has no clothes, and we are tired if the governments lies. Keep it up Steve.
"IF" the government lies?!!
@@rkimberly985 Correction, When the government lies. 😄
Terrifying that the justice department threatened criminal charges in an attempt to keep some of the money!
I agree-- that is the most troubling aspect of this entire story.
"Give us your money or we will charge you with a crime."
How is that NOT extortion???
When law enforcement leadership allows this kind of behavior, it's concerning. When our judges allow this kind of thing to happen, it tells me our government has become drastically corrupt to the point that it doesn't even try to hide it. Good to see there are still a small number of good judges left though.
Yeah, but SCOTUS destroys justice, it is their function, to erase all rights.
A $15,000 settlement???? Totally awesome and totally not enough. It should be AT LEAST the amount seized. The government needs a strong incentive to AVOID bogus seizures. Better yet, the entire practice is illegal. I hate our courts because they cannot be bothered to follow the constitution.
It's outrageous that the thieving officials didn't have to pay the Lawyer's fees ... !!!
You can thank SCOTUS, the most immoral court in the country.
It's time to outlaw civil asset forfeiture and legalize all the drugs as well. Yes. I'm serious.
As a recovering heroin addict 10 years this year i agree. I think my criminal record has ruined my life far more than my battle with drug addiction. I am still getting turned down from jobs when the last time i had been in any trouble was 2012. Apparently I can expunge my record next year. Probably at the cost of thousands of dollars. Not to mention I am a Christian and live in Colorado now but this all happened in Massachusetts. Apparently there was a mistake entering something in the system and I am not allowed on base with the chaplain due to this clerical error that according to the military base actually states that there was no resolution and looks like I have open warrants from 2012 which I do not. I should be able to sue them for Making like a living hell. But I always just say it’s my own fault for making poor decisions. Now I’m beginning to think it’s not entirely my fault.
@@Shhways I'm in the same boat. Kind of. Recovered for 5 years now. Fortunately I never got any charges. I hope it all keeps getting better on your job quest.
Serious perhaps, but not realistic.
The one guy (so far) who disliked this video was probably that TSA agent.
The whole DEA and TSA team have their thumbs down in it, now.
This is why TSA isn't allowed to wear the uniform off airport property - they get beat up.
@@frankney8284 laughable.
That the agency that causes so much trouble, and (at least for a time) assaulted anyone that cam their way, including Legislators, encourages anonymity while not on duty.
Yea, they KNOW they are doing wrong, or they wouldn't advocate simple acts to protect their minions from the General Public.
@@frankney8284
TSA, apparently, doesn't realise that the safest passenger on the flight is the one with $69,000 in cash. If they fail at this point, flights are not as safe as we are led to believe. ua-cam.com/video/yR2lgxy-htU/v-deo.html TSA should be disbanded!
The fact that they are negotiating is proof in my mind that they know they are lying.
Excellent story! Very interesting. Thank you 👍
Is that a Chrysler Turbine car model on the book case?
I believe it is, I'm so surprised to see that model on a lawyers bookshelf. The world needs more men like you fighting for rights. Thank you for the service you provide.
Good now if only we can get the cops who steal sent to jail for a long time
Rodrigues vs US said that the police can't extended the traffic stop without reasonable suspicion. Might be able to use that if the officer starts asking questions not related to the traffic stop. Like do you have money?
Cop "Are you carrying any cash?"
Me "Are you soliciting a bribe?"
Best thing to do at a traffic stop is when officer asks if you know why they're stopping you simply hand them your license , registration and insurance then say from here on out I will be exercising my right to remain silent .
Some will argue against giving them license , registration and insurance but it sets up your case before a jury . Basically you didn't hinder the officer in anyway in regards to the stop and anything from that point forward the jury weighs in your favor because your lawyer can argue that you were cooperative and tried to expedite the officers job by not hindering the officer with small talk .
Arguing with an officer is pointless so just have your cell phone camera running and better yet if possible have it live broadcasting so you'll have witnesses as well .
It would be interesting to find out how many times the DEA seized cash at airports as opposed to how often they don't when they're tipped off by the TSA. I bet it's well above 75% of the time.
That man was a legend! Not everyone who experience that does the same thing. Sadly, one of the most affected people here are landlords. They rent out their properties, not expecting that tenants turn it into a drug hub or something. It's unfortunate and this law should be amended.
What about if this happen while being driving, I've seen a video where a truck was pulled over and they found $8K cash on him and the driver was saying he was on his way to buy a used car but the police force still kept the money
I heard of a young man who was working as a part of a Christian worship music group who was visiting the US from Thailand, who was carrying ALL of the groups money (around $20-30,000) and the cops took it after they pulled him over for a minor traffic infraction. I don’t know if they ever got their money back-it may have been substantially more than that, it’s been a long time, but it’s heartbreaking and devastating to have this happen.
It HAPPENS in many different ways to many different people on many different days so that WE do not see the pattern. Designed and intended to keep the entire human race confused and struggling...
Are we becoming a Banana Republic? My nephew was mentally tortured to confess to killing his little sister. Over the course of 5 days, the cops took video of 40 hours. He was 15.
@@jillcrowe2626 that is illegal. We have to understand our rights. Children should be instructed by their parents to NEVER consent to be questioned by police…and we adults shouldn’t either. We MUST have an attorney. We have a for-profit prison system, and cops get bonuses and promotions if they can charge a person with a crime-and UP-CHARGE when possible.
It is now also common practice to keep people in jails (where conditions are often much worse than prisons as they originally were intended to be short term stays)…people are being kept in jail for months to years and then pressured to take a plea rather than go to trial.
@@jillcrowe2626 I failed to say how sorry I am that happened to your family. It’s cruel, evil and abusive. I pray he can find the grace to heal from the trauma.
Yeah. And biblically we are still to "submit to the government, because a good person will not be harmed by officials", or to that extent Paul writes.
Mmmhhh...
Steve, TY for keeping us up to date on Civil Asset Foreiture. Love the win!
It seems like he should also have sued for slander as well. The removal of his money wuold leave questions in others minds that well maybe, and that question could impact his future chance at projects to make a living.
DEA: "Our last and best offer. We return 90% of the money and keep 10".
Corbitt: "We demand 100%, and you can keep the remaining 0%.".
Sometimes I use similar language when I can't come to an agreement with somebody trying to sell something. "OK, tell you what. You, hang on to the merchandise, and I'll hold on to the money".
It's so satisfying to see the look on their faces when they realize, usually after a beat or two, that their sale just walked out the door.
I also think this guy should make a documentary & expose the corruption!!
Extortion and threats wow the DEA really learned well from the MOB. Great someone finally wins hopefully and more are coming, then judges get this is so wrong on so many levels.
Do you know why they go after the mob so hard? They don't like competition
@chuck 8094 Government For and By the people appears to be a lost concept at this point. How did we get to here i must wonder? Because when Good people do nothing, Evil takes over! This is NOT the nation our Founding Fathers envisioned I suspect!
I like how they can say 'you have money for bad things' then say 'we will give you 90% of the money back to use for bad things'.
I know he was not using it for bad things but that's the implication if you settle, a black mark on your file.
We're starting to see and hear about more of these cases where the little guy wins.
But what about interest? A great way to make money, seize cash, deposit it or invest it, pay it back and pocket the earnings, they still win.
It looks like the courts are realizing how ridiculous it is that civil asset forfeiture laws are being misused.
Theoretically the police/FBI/etc could stop anyone at any time and seize any cash they may be carrying, no matter how much or how little.
Because the govt has taken it too far.
Notice, thus guy was shocked to learn what the govt can do to him. Before this, he probably would have sided with the govt..doing this to another person..
Not Theoretically...Actually, and they have.
Wait for the other shoe to fall... That's when the IRS is notified about your cash and Audits you.
@@Bobs-Wrigles5555 Exactly, you beat me too it.😀
@@HappyHoboRecovery thats why if you do cash like this you need meticulous book keeping
I thought of a great idea. Tell TSA that i'm carrying lots of money. When the DEA shows up, show them a pile of Monopoly money.
"I have a lot of large bills on me."
**DEA shows up**
"Here's my mortgage bill. My insurance bill. My cable bill..."
Yeah good luck explaining the ounce of coke they're gonna magically pull out of your ass is also from Monopoly...
If they offer to payback Any amount isn't that admission of guilt?
Doesn't matter, They hide behind QI
Or can other government agencies seize the DEA funds because by their own account that money is the product of or is going to be used to fund criminal activity. That's why they took it in the first place right.
Smart strategy to the situation. Thank you for recognizing the name of the attorney several times. Hopefully will earn him much respect, and increased business to these matters. As well as, raising awareness to MORE attorney strategies!!...Great work Steve!
Although I am happy that the gentleman received all of his mo.returned all of his money plus punitive damages to punish them for violating this mans rights
Thats the government, extorting folks. Who gets this money? Because the actions of what should be “disinterested parties” makes it appear they are awarded bonuses or something like that over fighting for money that can get legally accounted for.
Fun fact Aretha Franklin early on was siffed for a show and after that was paid in cash prior to every show she performed. What more she would have pockets sown into her dresses to hold it during the show. Towards the end of her career she would have been singing RESPECT with close to $100,000 in hundreds wrapped around her body. Lesson, never trust a producer/booking agent you don't know. Contracts are good, cash (half up front, half upon completion) way better.
My favourite how rubbish is showbiz story, chuck Berry would get paid in cash before the show he would place the cash in an attache case and wind his guitar lead through the handles, then he'd know if he was being robbed again.
Cash is King and everything else is BS.
@@sd906238 Gold and silver have been money for thousands of years. Government issued paper currency is lucky to last more than a few decades, and even if it does last that long, it's losing value year after year.
RIP. That information can no longer be used to commit CAF against her.
More like a methode to avoid paying income tax and as you state to prevent being ripped off.
If they reached a settlement through mediation, won't that keep it from being a precedent that courts can cite and rely upon?
Good creative lawyering. It's the necessary mindset needed to finally squash this CAF tyranny.
@@TheBooban "you win $15k more than they seized," - not necessarily, it was a settlement in this case only. Perhaps no settlement and suit continues in other cases or would come to a different settlement. However, I'm sure this lawyer's reasoning will be cited in future airport CAF cases.
Many years ago there was either a 60 Minutes segment or 20/20 segment that talked about the civil forfeiture where money was being seized in airports. One of the situations was in which ticket agents would get bounties bounties from the feds to report people carrying large sums of cash when they bought their tickets.
Good for him, the filmmaker and the lawyer that represented him, this kind of crap needs to end
Awesome win against the government and very well played by a smart lawyer.
The TSA/DEA relationship: We sees it, you seize it!
TSA are paid a bounty by the DEA.
I have a feeling that attorney Corbett is going to be getting some client phone calls.
Hopefully other lawyers are looking closely at this case.
Money is not a person, and therefore cannot be guilty of a crime. That needs to be the basis of a defense, and it needs to be appealed all the way to the supreme court if necessary.
Very good information to know as many businesses deal with a lot of cash like auction goers which are required to pay that way.
Steve I love your coverage of this mad law.
I am not sure I would categorize this as a “great result “, as basically he was made whole…however what about the lose to his business, delaying his film, inconvenienced, damaged his credibility…
Really what happened here…they stole his money, played the odds of having to give it back, used taxpayers money to take a innocent man to court to fight for money they were not entitled to…what the deterrent here 🤔
The deterrent IF any, was that the man won’t carry cash as he has a right to do…so in part the government won, as they now are bullying a citizen into quashing his constitutional rights.
A great win, imho, the lawyer would’ve been paid and punitive action would’ve been applied to the agencies, $20k to the victim and lawyers fees paid would’ve been more of a decent win..but still not great.
Not entirely whole either - he lost 8 months of projects he could have worked on, and didn't even get the interest that money would have generated during that time. Consider that the government has lawyers on their payroll and this doesn't actually cost them anything for legal fees on their side, so the government has technically still come out ahead here - albeit not by all that much. But there's still no penalty sufficient to discourage further attempts to do exactly the same thing, especially since it was eventually settled in mediation, so there's no precedent for future judges to follow.
It is a great result in terms of how it ended compared to how these typically go.
A normal case you are SOL, here he won... kinda.
The TSA has a long way to go to earn my trust and this doesn't help one bit.
My daughter and I were traveling a number of years ago, she was about 9 and is 22 now. We were eating lunch in a lounge and could see the TSA line. They were pulling any woman above 75 out of line for extra screening. After the fifth one my daughter said, "Do those police hate grandmothers?" That's one hell of an observation by a child. I think it was likely the agents were amusing themselves or had a bet going. Seriously... They seemed to be having fun.
Going through your backlog of videos. Thank you for this. The breakdown on this video is amazing.
Steve,
This was a great video. Asset forfeiture is a big problem, as are Public Officials that are tasked with upholding the Law who then break the Law. This is also a good reason that some people hate the police.
Asset Forfeiture highlights but one instance where US Law is clearly Wrong. I commend you for shining the light on the unfair and Unconstitutional practice of Asset Forfeiture. It is for Attorneys to speak up where the LAW is wrong, or is misapplied. Shame on the Government Attorneys who defended a perversion of the Law that they well know is Wrong. Lawyers may see this case as a debate on the nuances and the validity of the Forfeiture Laws; laymen see this as a clear case of “Right vs. Wrong”.
For the “Laws” of a free Nation to be respected these laws must accurately reflect “right and wrong”. So many times in any Nation’s history there are cases where Laws are not Right or Just. Here in the USA examples are: Civil Rights, Suffrage of women, Internment of US citizens during WW2, treaties with Native Americans, archaic and inconsistent enforcement of drug laws, mass incarceration of nonviolent offenders, etc., etc.
When a Nation’s Laws are unjust or are perverted it is the first necessary step towards an Authoritarian State where the Laws serve the State and not the People. See Russia and China.
By the court's logic- the siezed money should be able to sue for false imprisonment.
That is a really great point. The best defense is a good offense. Why shouldn’t the money be able to sue? Sure makes sense to me.
The court has ruled that money is speech. So this was a first-amendment violation.
Steve - Thanks for all you do for your fellow Americans. Good to hear about the success of this case.
Wait, it SOUNDS like the judge wanted to prevent a citable legal court decision.
They gave the guy his money back and paid for his legal expenses to prevent a court ruling.
@@LostInThe0zone there was no court decision. This was a settlement out of court.
@@LostInThe0zone Of course they "let" it happen. It was the best outcome for the DEA.
He doesn't want it to go to SCOTUS where the case gets overturned for political reasons and then illegal search and seizure gets codified in law.
Our highest court is corrupt. MAKE SCOTUS ELECTED, NOT APPOINTED.
@@Mavendow That's going to make it worse... anyone who has the drive to succeed in an election has an agenda. Supreme court justices should only have the agenda of ensuring whatever law is questioned is or is not constitutional.
You know you have a good lawyer if he's known as "trouble maker" glad he got his money back and another step closer to getting rid of this horrible thing the government does
A filmmaker? He is in a unique position to broadcast this. Why am I only hearing about this 7 months later on this channel?
When the DoJ started to dig into his bank account they are required to have a warrant to do it. I would be interested in seeing the affidavits that supported them getting a warrant, if they in fact got one.
I agree that this is great news for him, but I don’t necessarily agree that it is great news for everyone. Since they reached a settlement then there is no precedent being set. That is what needs to happen in order for this to be great news for all. He was extremely fortunate to have gotten that Judge, but not all are required to be so understanding.
Love the win
And it’s sad that In 2021 I have to say that !
Hope the law gets changed. We the people have the collective power to implement change. Maybe I step at a time !!
Send the DEA a legal notice that explains the terms of your _loan_ to the government and including your interest rates for your loan, which should probably be like 25% per annum or higher.
This guy should make a documentary about this issue!!
One. Step closer to ending the corruption!
Unfortunately that 15k over what the DEA Stole is taxpayer money. It should come out of the DEA salary budget.
Or upper management bonuses!
It should come out if that DEA agent's ass. Ets.
The DEA saw Atn as their own personal ATM. And real smart, piss off a guy who can make a film about you.