FBI Steals Life Savings of OH family....

[tomveil]

For 40 years, Meredith and Luther Ricks did everything the right way. They worked hard, saved carefully and raised a family in their modest Lima home. They were poised to enjoy their retirement years in peace.

Despite their four decades of hard work, however, an absurdly unjust law has turned their hope for the American Dream into an outrageous nightmare at the hands of the Cleveland FBI.
----------------------------------------

The full story is at:

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plain...ssf?/base/opinion/1206001957245730.xml&coll=2

--------------------------------

Outrageous. If anybody has any information about how to help these people out, please post it.

 

[kyleAF]

That is ridiculous. You know, they should really be careful not to keep forcing people into the "nothing left to lose" category. Especially in light of the soon-to-be turbulent times we all face here.

 

[Vet_from_cali]

wow, that is so F'd up on so many levels. just wow

 

[Nirvikalpa]

Guilty until proven innocent.

While criminal forfeiture requires that a property owner be found guilty of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt, civil forfeiture does not require that the owner even be accused of a crime, much less convicted. The government proceeds directly against the property it wants to take, which means owners are not entitled to any of the protections they would receive if they were accused of a crime.

That made my stomach turn. Murderers and rapists get more rights.

 

[phixion]

I'm lost for words. That is an insane policy for the police to follow - simply for monetary gain, I assume.

Yet another unfortunate example of why Americans aren't as free as they think.

And why many police officers don't deserve their badge.

And why I detest most police.

Pete

 

[amy31416]

Outrageous. Infuriating.

 

[hillbilly123069]

http://www.congress.org/

I just posted a letter here under "senoir citizens" with the title headlining my topic and checked it to be in public view. Its an embarrassment I think they would like to address considering the masses that use this site now.

 

[amy31416]

I just posted a letter here under "senoir citizens" with the title headlining my topic and checked it to be in public view. Its an embarrassment I think they would like to address considering the masses that use this site now.

I can't seem to find it.

 

[sluggo]

I can't really see how the FBI's actions are much different than the actions attempted by the intruders........

 

[tomveil]

I can't really see how the FBI's actions are much different than the actions attempted by the intruders........

You could fight off the intruders?

 

[Paulitical Correctness]

A lot of people would say "Oh well, shouldn't have had the weed."

It's because of those people that this shit can happen and will continue to happen.

 

[amonasro]

I'm going to preface this by saying I have the highest sympathies for this family, and it is a horrible injustice, and I am totally against any and all marijuana laws.

But what I don't understand is... why didn't someone get rid of the weed? Let's say you're a cop that shows up at the home:

-You see someone shot and stabbed in their house related to a burglary.
-You discover a couple ounces of high-grade, medicinal quality marijuana. This is not the crap that comes across the border from Mexico, but the good stuff that is grown locally.
-They have almost half million in cash in a safe.

Is this not a shady situation?

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the burglary was probably related to the insane amount of cash they kept there, and possibly had ties to Luther's dealer. Obviously they would want to investigate this.

I know this is a free country, but to think that having drugs and that kind of money in the same place isn't going to raise suspicions is just lunacy. Yes, it's ridiculous that they confiscated the money, but you have to know the laws if you're going to skirt them.

 

[Anthony T]

I hate heavily biased articles like the one you posted.

I'm going to preface this by saying I have the highest sympathies for this family, and it is a horrible injustice, and I am totally against any and all marijuana laws.

But what I don't understand is... why didn't someone get rid of the weed? Let's say you're a cop that shows up at the home:

-You see someone shot and stabbed in their house related to a burglary.
-You discover a couple ounces of high-grade, medicinal quality marijuana. This is not the crap that comes across the border from Mexico, but the good stuff that is grown locally.
-They have almost half million in cash in a safe.

Is this not a shady situation?

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the burglary was probably related to the insane amount of cash they kept there, and possibly had ties to Luther's dealer. Obviously they would want to investigate this.

I know this is a free country, but to think that having drugs and that kind of money in the same place isn't going to raise suspicions is just lunacy. Yes, it's ridiculous that they confiscated the money, but you have to know the laws if you're going to skirt them.

I fully agree.

 

[Feelgood]

Here is a perfect example why RP says to get rid of the FBI.

 

[dwdollar]

It's outrageous.

The time for talk is almost over.

 

[tomveil]

I'm going to preface this by saying I have the highest sympathies for this family, and it is a horrible injustice, and I am totally against any and all marijuana laws.

But what I don't understand is... why didn't someone get rid of the weed? Let's say you're a cop that shows up at the home:

-You see someone shot and stabbed in their house related to a burglary.
-You discover a couple ounces of high-grade, medicinal quality marijuana. This is not the crap that comes across the border from Mexico, but the good stuff that is grown locally.
-They have almost half million in cash in a safe.

Is this not a shady situation?

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the burglary was probably related to the insane amount of cash they kept there, and possibly had ties to Luther's dealer. Obviously they would want to investigate this.

I know this is a free country, but to think that having drugs and that kind of money in the same place isn't going to raise suspicions is just lunacy. Yes, it's ridiculous that they confiscated the money, but you have to know the laws if you're going to skirt them.

Clearly the government has the right to take it all! God forbid people should be able to keep their own money wherever they choose! They didn't get charged with a crime and just got their life savings STOLEN.

I guess the moral of the story is that you shouldn't let the cops into your home, ever.

 

[dbhohio47]

I'm the first to agree that the civil confiscation laws are totally insane; but, there's something a little fishy about that story....... I'm not so sure the homeowners are as "innocent" as the author of the article would lead you to believe.

 

[tomveil]

I'm the first to agree that the civil confiscation laws are totally insane; but, there's something a little fishy about that story....... I'm not so sure the homeowners are as "innocent" as the author of the article would lead you to believe.

Yeah, there should be some sort of "process" where the "judiciary" could determine your "innocence". Nah, let's just take all the money.

 

[amonasro]

Clearly the government has the right to take it all! God forbid people should be able to keep their own money wherever they choose! They didn't get charged with a crime and just got their life savings STOLEN.

I guess the moral of the story is that you shouldn't let the cops into your home, ever.

No of course they shouldn't have the right to take any of it unless they are convicted of some kind of crime.

I was just pointing out that marijuana + $500k in a safe = bad news if the cops show up. People can keep their savings in a mattress for all I care

I suspect they had no choice but to let the cops into their home since it's a crime scene. All the more reason to hide or destroy any damning evidence.

 

[rockandrollsouls]

"Such is the result of civil forfeiture laws, which represent one of the most profound assaults on our rights today.

Civil forfeiture can apply to virtually any property: cars, houses, boats and, as the Rickses' case demonstrates, even money. The property can be seized merely on suspicion that it was used in connection with a crime or resulted from criminal activity. "

Amen. They should be sueing the bejebus out of the government! Complete violation of 5th ammendment rights....