The more than $62 million in assets seized by Virginia law enforcement from suspected narcotics traffickers and other drug dealers in the past seven years range from the mundane to the insanely extravagant.
On the high end, gold Krugerrand coins, $36,000 diamond-encrusted watches, a $100,000 Porsche, tricked-out chopper motorcycles, $20,000 worth of sneakers, custom 31-foot fishing boats, waterfront homes and piles of cash — as much as $401,200 in a single bust — top the list of loot that police confiscated since 2008 through Virginia’s civil asset-forfeiture program.
Although police seize nearly anything associated with criminal activity, the largest assets in terms of value have been, without exception, cash — totaling millions a year.
Nearly $26 million of the $62 million seized has been disbursed so far in civil asset-forfeiture proceedings across the state, with police using the funds to buy Tasers, body cameras, ballistic protective gear, laptops, forensic equipment and additional training for officers.
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The Police should buy tents, like Sheriff Joe Apraio, In Maricopa County, Arizona did
ReplyDeleteand we would not need all of those meetings to talk about how to deal with crime.
Thanks
This isn't about crime it's about civil forfeiture. They call you a 'suspected drug dealer' and take your stuff. Think you're innocent until proven guilty? Think you have 4th amendment rights anymore? Not exactly..
ReplyDeleteThey can, and do take your assets even if you are never even charged with a crime. If they take your personal property, cash, or bank account funds, it is on YOU to "prove" you did not commit any crime. Even then, the judge is likely to rule that it "could have been" acquired using profits from drugs, even though you weren't guilty of any crime.
ReplyDeleteThe police departments have been well documented, selling people's cars at auction before they even went to trial.
"UN-civil forfeiture" is one of the most egregious and outrageous government violations of our rights. Since government agencies get to keep all or most of the proceeds of the assets they seize, they have a vested interest in grabbing as much as possible, and the judges are complicit in this legal armed robbery of citizens.
Anyones hand in the till?
ReplyDelete4:43 what do you think? You are a cop making $30,000.00 or a little more, your wife is working also, you got 3 kids, they all want stuff, and now you just kicked in the door of a drug dealer. There is $90,000.00 cash on the table, No one is going to complain if only $50,000.00 got turned in.
ReplyDeleteThen the govt. Should pay cops what they deserve. Them behaving worse then the criminals is more corrupt & dangerous for innocent civilians. How criminals gon police criminals
ReplyDelete