Buried cash arouses the interest of Big Brother

Buried loot a mystery for authorities
His mistake was even telling them where the money came from. I don't believe the law requires you to explain yourself. Now our "protectors" in Washington are now trying to take the money from him (with zero evidence that the money came from any illegal activity).
His mistake was even telling them where the money came from. I don't believe the law requires you to explain yourself. Now our "protectors" in Washington are now trying to take the money from him (with zero evidence that the money came from any illegal activity).
"Men who had never shown any ability to make or increase fortunes for themselves abounded in brilliant plans for creating and increasing wealth for the country at large." Fiat Money Inflation in France, Andrew Dickson White (1912)
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Edited to say now it's working.
if he really doesn't want the governments assistance, he should attempt to spend the bills, as-is, period.
if I light a dollar on fire and destroy it, can I go to the government and ask for a replacement for the ashes?
if they really cared about the money, it should have been better cared for and not hidden to rot for YEARS.
common sense rules. this story STINKS of something untoward.
<< <i>The link does not seem to work for me. >>
works for me *boggle*
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<< <i>Saw that story earlier. I'm not sure when there arose a requirement to state or prove where you got money. I know there are reporting requirements for large cash transactions after a certain date. The burden should be on the government to show there is a connection to unreported income or illegal activity. I'm not defending money laundering or anything like that. I just don't see how suspicion alone can presume guilt. The guy shouldn't have said where he got it in the first place. If the serial numbers didn't match ones recorded from a robbery or similar, ... >>
Exactly. The government has thrown out a lot of speculation that this money was illegally gotten, but zero evidence. As I understand the rules, they are supposed to exchange the money for him. Period. The reporting requirement they're trying to nail him with seems suspect -- this "money" was in no condition to be used for commerce, so it's not even clear that requirement would apply.
<< <i>Any cash transaction over $10k has to be reported to the feds as part of the patriot act designed to prevent money laundering by terrorists. So it makes sense to me that you have to give an explanation that doesn't sound like the money could end up in terrorist hands...but this sounds like drug money to me. Reminds me of the start of "No Country for Old Men." --Jerry >>
Actually, I think the amount is only $3,000 dollars.
$20,000,000 is a lot of money for someone to lose track of whether on a basement or buried under a tree! $2,000 ,maybe $20,000 or even $100,000 I might be able to swallow but not $20 million.
That amount of cash can only mean drug deals!
The name is LEE!
<< <i>Guilty until proven innocent is how the system works. >>
Pretty much.
As someone with a couple of decades interviewing/interrogating suspects of crimes, there were many disparities I noticed in which would have raised suspicion.
If the individual had a verifiable story to where the money came from, and hadn’t acted the way he did, this whole story would have been a blip on the last page of the news. The way the individual acted brought the investigation.
I also agree there could be very little real evidence (at this point) to prove beyond a reasonable doubt as to the innocence or guilt of the individual… but with time, all that will change and the truth will be revealed.
My guess/opinion… money laundering by a fool who will end up serving 3 - 5 in Federal prison.
Steve
In memory of the USAF Security Forces lost: A1C Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 9/28/05; SSgt Brian McElroy, 1/22/06; TSgt Jason Norton, 1/22/06; A1C Lee Chavis, 10/14/06; SSgt John Self, 5/14/07; A1C Jason Nathan, 6/23/07; SSgt Travis Griffin, 4/3/08; 1Lt Joseph Helton, 9/8/09; SrA Nicholas J. Alden, 3/3/2011. God Bless them and all those who have lost loved ones in this war. I will never forget their loss.
<< <i>My two cents...
As someone with a couple of decades interviewing/interrogating suspects of crimes, there were many disparities I noticed in which would have raised suspicion. >>
Where does the government get off asking him any questions in the first place? The proper response to these questions, in a free society, should have been "none of your business." He doesn't owe them any explanation.
<< <i>
<< <i>My two cents... As someone with a couple of decades interviewing/interrogating suspects of crimes, there were many disparities I noticed in which would have raised suspicion. >>
Where does the government get off asking him any questions in the first place? The proper response to these questions, in a free society, should have been "none of your business." He doesn't owe them any explanation. >>
And which republic is the second republic? That's not the way the law reads is this republic. --Jerry
<< <i>Any cash transaction over $10k has to be reported to the feds as part of the patriot act.
This law has been on the books long before the patriot act, any cash transaction of 10k or over has to be reported to the federal goverment.
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<< <i>Guilty until proven innocent is how the system works. >>
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
Unbelievable! There is an undertone here that is soooo pervasive in this country nowadays.... That the government has no right to act in a way that protects it's own self interest and it's citizens.
There is no right that protects a fool from self incrimination and this scumbag lawyer/customs broker is trying to launder money for an illegal operation. It is people like second republic that want to turn a blind eye while this money finances a criminal operation and is perhaps returned to us by thugs posing as a swat team and slaughtering innocent American civilians. Yeah, let's protect the rights of criminals!
There are so many lies and holes in this story that raise suspicion, the government would be derelict in it's duty to let it pass unnoticed. An honest person who found the money legally wouldn't have to make up half a dozen stories and the truth would have been verifiable. If the OP thinks the government is wrong in this case, I suggest he move to his "second republic" where he can bribe officials to do his bidding or stick to UFO/Conspiracy theories.
this money finances a criminal operation
Do you actually know any of this? I don't think so. You're just making this stuff up as you go along.
An honest person who found the money legally wouldn't have to make up half a dozen stories and the truth would have been verifiable
Bottom line is that the government's "suspicion" doesn't make him into a criminal. We still have a Constitution in this country.
That stuff looks like it's already been laundered! Privacy issues aside, this "find" would be investigated even if the stor(ies) weren't fishy, and they definitely are.
<< <i>
<< <i>Your belief that there are no legal requirements to explain $20M in cash is totally incorrect. As far back as the gangster days of the 20s and 30s the govt tracked down bad guys by following the money, not the crimes. --Jerry >>
What law requires you to declare any cash in your possession (of any amount)? I've never heard of it. I am not talking about cash you received in a business transaction or brought into the country, but rather cash that you have on your own. If I withdraw $500 from the bank or ATM just once a week and do so for 5 years, I will end up with about $130,000 in cash. Are you saying I need to self-report this cash to the government so they can determine whether what I am doing is "suspicious"? Remind me again, what country do we live in? >>
I don't know what country you're living in. You've been asked several times where the second republic is and haven't answered.
You don't have to report having cash. You have to report cash transactions. So if you walk in to deposit your $130,000 in a bank you're gonna have to explain it. In this case, he walked into the treasurey dept and has to explain it. So indeed, you can have cash, you just have to spend it a little at a time or else have a legitimate explanation.
--Jerry
<< <i>
<< <i>Any cash transaction over $10k has to be reported to the feds as part of the patriot act designed to prevent money laundering by terrorists. So it makes sense to me that you have to give an explanation that doesn't sound like the money could end up in terrorist hands...but this sounds like drug money to me. Reminds me of the start of "No Country for Old Men." --Jerry >>
Actually, I think the amount is only $3,000 dollars. >>
No, it's 10K. If you're thinking casino cashout, some of them try to be overly intrusive, too, and want ID at 3K. You don't have to give it to them (but you may get a hard time.)
Second republic refers to coins of the Polish second republic (1919-1939), which I collect. Not sure what relevance that has to this issue.
<< <i>If I withdraw $500 from the bank or ATM just once a week and do so for 5 years, I will end up with about $130,000 in cash. Are you saying I need to self-report this cash to the government so they can determine whether what I am doing is "suspicious"? >>
Nope, no questions would be asked as your weekly withdrawels would be a matter of computer and bank transaction record which could be verified in a matter of hours!
I think this is a poor analogy since it is no where near stating that you "found" 20 million dollars! Or $200,000 or whatever amount this fellow tried to get "replaced"!
And lets not forget something folks, this cash is going back out of the country since it is being "brokered" for folks that "found it" in Mexico!
The name is LEE!
Desperado
El Mariachi
Once upon a time in mexico
From dusk till dawn
See them in that order, perhaps reversing the last two.
<<<The point is that, legally, he doesn't need to explain anything. There is no evidence that he's done anything wrong. It's not illegal to keep millions of dollars in cash, last time I checked. It may seem e a little strange to YOU, and to the government busybodies, but last time I checked this was still a free country. >>>
Wrong: see the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986. Link to PDF doc.
The Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-570) is a United States Act of Congress that made money laundering a Federal crime. It was passed in 1984. It consists of two sections, 18 U.S.C. § 1956 and 18 U.S.C. § 1957. It enhanced the Bank Secrecy Act by making it a crime to structure transactions in such a way as to avoid the reporting requirements of that Act.
<<<Where does the government get off asking him any questions in the first place? The proper response to these questions, in a free society, should have been "none of your business." He doesn't owe them any explanation. >>>
Wrong again: see above
<<<His mistake was even telling them where the money came from. I don't believe the law requires you to explain yourself. Now our "protectors" in Washington are now trying to take the money from him (with zero evidence that the money came from any illegal activity). >>>>
Wrong: He has to provide evidence that the money came from a legitimate source.
<<<Do you actually know any of this? I don't think so. You're just making this stuff up as you go along.>>>>
No, I don't know for a fact, but the evidence certainly points in that direction and I can rationally deduce that the person and his family are trying to hide something. As for making things up....I suggest you bone up on your reading as to what is legal before you spout your anti-government rhetoric. I suppose you believe Rev Wright when he says that the US Govt. has used AIDS to keep the black people of the world down and that it distributes crack cocaine for the same reason?
BS to the paranoia!
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I don't think so!
Purchased over several years with accountable funds as the man was wealthy before he ever strted buying silver.
"From time to time he would go to the bank and buy some bags of 1,000 silver dollars."
Of course, all this occured way before "money laundering" was ever in the spot light.
My brother in laws Father did the exact same thing though not near as large a hoard. Maybe 4,000 coins.
The name is LEE!
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