Mistake Costs Dishwasher $59,000

[Nomad559]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/immigrant.money/index.html

For 11 years, Pedro Zapeta, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, lived his version of the American dream in Stuart, Florida: washing dishes and living frugally to bring money back to his home country.

Two years ago, Zapeta was ready to return to Guatemala, so he carried a duffel bag filled with $59,000 -- all the cash he had scrimped and saved over the years -- to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

But when Zapeta tried to go through airport security, an officer spotted the money in the bag and called U.S. customs officials.

"They asked me how much money I had," Zapeta recalled, speaking to CNN in Spanish.

He told the customs officials $59,000. At that point, U.S. customs seized his money, setting off a two-year struggle for Zapeta to get it back.

[baldguy]

1. He won't get it back.

His mistake was working hard & being honest.

[Zookeeper]

2. Since Customs is now clear on what's going on...

I don't understand why they don't just give the money back to him.

This is very sad. I hope it ends up being settled in his favor.

[baldguy]

3. Look up "asset forfeiture"

Mr Zapeta may have rights, but his money doesn't

[Vilis Veritas]

5. That is the saddest fact...n/t

[Vilis Veritas]

4. He should have accepted their offer...

It is just that now he will go back with nothing. To be honest, I am surprised they even made an offer...

[renate]

6. this is so awful

He should have paid taxes, so it'd be fair to take what he owes out of the sum.

But it's no fair to run out the clock on him and then say "too bad, so sad." He did exactly what the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps," "everybody can make it in America" crowd say people should do, and he's being punished for not knowing a rule I bet very few of the rest of us know either.

He must have had such big dreams of returning to Guatemala and giving a wonderful life to the loved ones he had to be apart from for so long. And now this. It's not just money, it's the very essence of this man's life that's being destroyed.