DEA Steals $16,000 In Cash From Young Black Man, Because He Must Be A Drug Dealer

[Saffer 27]

That's a lot of money to carry around in cash. Why not use a debit card or somethng safer?

Of course what happened is wrong but man, I wouldn't walk around with $500 in cash, especially in South Africa where people are murdered for less than $20.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Saffer

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Whether or not it's sensible for anyone to carry around that amount of cash the point surely is whether it's OK to assume that someone carrying a large amount of cash is guilty of a crime, simply because they have money on them.

[Saffer 27]

I agree, they should not be presumed guilty before it is proven. On a seperate note, I've always been asked by customs/immigration officers how much cash I have on me when entering the US. They don't like to hear amounts more than $10,000. Seems to be a big push in the US to discourage people from walking around with loads of cash.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I agree, they should not be presumed guilty before it is proven. On a seperate note, I've always been asked by customs/immigration officers how much cash I have on me when entering the US. They don't like to hear amounts more than $10,000. Seems to be a big push in the US to discourage people from walking around with loads of cash.

That's a different issue - every country has laws limiting the amount of cash you can bring across an international border before it needs to be declared. Not declaring it is a crime.

There are no such restrictions on carrying large amounts of cash within your own country.

[Saffer 27]

Yeah I get it's a different issue. But what's the point of people posting these stories here just to stir the pot between liberals and conservatives and everyone else in between? We can all agree that what happened to this man is unfair. But what are we supposed to do about it?

Are you going to start a petition for him? If you do, I'll be happy to sign it.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yeah I get it's a different issue. But what's the point of people posting these stories here just to stir the pot between liberals and conservatives and everyone else in between? We can all agree that what happened to this man is unfair. But what are we supposed to do about it?

Are you going to start a petition for him? If you do, I'll be happy to sign it.

This forum is all about stirring the pot.

[Saffer 27]

This forum is all about stirring the pot.

I see

[decocker 7,198]

No. When you're black, you're guilty until proven innocent.

but if there's no charge, there's no opportunity to prove anything. and i'm pretty sure this is open season on amtrak - you don't have to be black to look like a drug dealer. just travelling alone, in a sleeper car, not checking your bags..read the article i posted.

There are no such restrictions on carrying large amounts of cash within your own country.

indeed, as long as one fully understands that any amount of cash is not actually their own. it's up for the taking.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well, there is a 33% chance he is a drug dealer.

Does that not also mean that there's a 67% chance that he's not? Or is that not relevant seeing that we're talking about a young black male here?

[spookyturtle 9,465]

but if there's no charge, there's no opportunity to prove anything. and i'm pretty sure this is open season on amtrak - you don't have to be black to look like a drug dealer. just travelling alone, in a sleeper car, not checking your bags..read the article i posted.

indeed, as long as one fully understands that any amount of cash is not actually their own. it's up for the taking.

This is VJ. We don't read, we react.

Does that not also mean that there's a 67% chance that he's not? Or is that not relevant seeing that we're talking about a young black male here?

But one chance in three is pretty good odds. If only picking the lottery numbers had such odds.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Attorney after attorney has said, "Never ever consent to any search." If the agent had the right to search, he would have done so without the need to ask permission. The poor kid did it to himself by consenting ("complying"). There are also ways to deflect questions about destinations and reasons for travel, which no U.S. citizen need answer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

http://www.aclu.org/files/kyr/kyr_english.pdf

While this might work in some cases, being a 16 year old first time in the city, he thought he was doing the right thing. I can't speak for anyone other than myself, but from my friends and family, we typically don't want to rock the boat since cops have shown time and time again they're not above getting physical with someone if they think you're resisting.

[Saffer 27]

If some thief stole his money, everyone would be saying he was an IDIOT for carrying around that amount of cash. *stirring the pot*

[decocker 7,198]

If some thief stole his money, everyone would be saying he was an IDIOT for carrying around that amount of cash. *stirring the pot*

did you read the article? a thief did steal his money!

[Saffer 27]

did you read the article? a thief did steal his money!

:rofl:

[TBoneTX 45,288]

we typically don't want to rock the boat since cops have shown time and time again they're not above getting physical with someone if they think you're resisting.

Point very well taken. There are ways to minimize this risk: "Officer, I'm not resisting you. In general discussions with my attorney, he has recommended never consenting to any search for any reason, and I respect that advice. Am I free to go?"

Of course, a 16-year-old wouldn't have an attorney, nor would he probably be quick-thinking or sophisticated enough to come up with a variant of this.