Man Says Oklahoma Police Seized $140K From Him Without Cause

[ansible]

A New Mexico man says Oklahoma sheriff's deputies seized more than $140,000 from him and his business partner on baseless suspicion of drug trafficking, and a local news outlet found the records to back up his story. Last week, Oklahoma news outlet News 4 reported that Thai Nang, a New Mexico businessman, claimed that the Canadian County Sheriff's Office seized roughly $141,500 in cash from him and his partner during a traffic stop in April.

Nang says he and a business partner were traveling to buy a piece of land when they were pulled over. Sheriff's deputies searched the car and found the money. Nang alleges that when he tried to explain that it was for a property purchase, a deputy responded, "I'm 300 percent sure that's illegal money."

There's nothing illegal about traveling with large amounts of cash, but police often claim it's the fruits of drug trafficking. Under a practice called civil asset forfeiture, police can confiscate property suspected of being connected to criminal activity, even when the owner hasn't been charged with a crime.

Nang also claims the amount the sheriff's office reported seizing is roughly $10,000 short of the actual amount.

https://reason.com/2021/07/23/man-says-oklahoma-police-seized-140k-from-him-without-cause/

[Xoan]

1. Murica

[LiberalFighter]

2. Corrupt police everywhere.

That practice needs to be made illegal.

[Grins]

10. ESPECIALLY Sheriff's!!!!!!

Because they are elected. A pre-Norman Conquest office that has no longer needed and just as untrustworthy.

[CrispyQ]

3. How the fuck is something like this legal?

...police can confiscate property suspected of being connected to criminal activity, even when the owner hasn't been charged with a crime.

[ret5hd]

4. Check this lawyers channel out...

Covers this situation extensively:

Some states are fixing it:

[CrispyQ]

11. Thank you for sharing!

"They think we're making this stuff up."

I've heard of this but I didn't know it was this bad & I thought it only occurred in a few states. Black Asphalt. OMG. They are just stealing from the citizens! Premeditated. This is so fucked up.

BTW, this guy's really good. He made me laugh a couple of times. Watched the first one & now going to watch the second one. Thanks for sharing.

[ansible]

6. It's legal as long as the government does it

Bernie's been trying for years to do something about civil forfeitures but with little luck

[Mariana]

7. It's been legal for a long time. It shouldn't be. nt.

[rampartc]

13. war on drugs - reagan era policy.

[Qutzupalotl]

5. "I'd like to report a robbery."

[sciencescience]

8. the police shouldn't be doing traffic stops, some other safety agency should be

It seems to me that the profession and culture of armed police officers attracts too many bad apples. They should be used only when necessary.

[Devil Child]

9. Civil asset forfeiture anywhere outside of a felony conviction is outright theft.

Mr. Nang now faces an uphill battle in getting his property back from the state. Disgusting.

[Bayard]

12. Thai Nang

That's probably why he was pulled over.