Des Moines, Iowa (CNN)On a bright, clear morning in April 2013, two professional poker players from California were heading west on Interstate 80 in rural Iowa when they were stopped by two Iowa State Troopers.
Before that stop was over, the officers had seized $100,000, which the men said was money to play poker. The troopers also called ahead to California authorities, who raided the men's homes and ultimately indicted one of them, John Newmerzhycky, on a charge of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.
If this sounds unusual and way out of the ordinary, it isn't. The seizure is just one of thousands of highway stops that state and local authorities call "interdictions:" Roadside stops aimed at catching drug dealers or even terrorists, but which can also result in cash seizures alone with no criminal charges attached.
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Criminal activity under the guise of law enforcement. No drugs found in the vehicle, and no reason to suspect that the owners were involved in drug sale or purchase that would involve $100,000.
ReplyDeleteI hope that this becomes a test case, and one well documented by the media.
This is just another case of cops who think they can do anything they want and get away with it.Our politicans better wake up and put a stop to this befor long because pepole are really getting upset and when the crap hits the fan there will be hell to pay.
ReplyDeleteIsn't this how mike lewis made his name and Money ?
ReplyDelete