I do not know if you are dense, or like to play one on the internet (I suspect the former). If the OP says, that he has considered doing A or doing B or doing C, but does not want to do anything illegal, how do you propose telling him that A and B are illegal?Your post did a real good job of implying the OP was attempting to commit a crime but they specifically posted they did not want to break any laws.
Did you pay with $20 bills, $100 bills or a truckload of pennies?They didn't bother me with a $20k cash purchase of a car.
I suggest you research a few cases. I will offer two of them for a start. In both cases, the government confiscated cash from the individuals but neither individual was charged with anything or even investigated for any crime past the initial police contact. The following are from the appeals court decisions that are still standing (all appeals have been exhausted):I am not arguing that what you post is not possible. I am arguing that by your statements, everybody should never have any cash lest they are going to lose it to the government. I have a bit more hope for and faith in our government than that.
From "US v. $124,700" the majority opinion states: "Possession of a large sum of cash is 'strong evidence' of a connection to drug activity."
From "US v.$91,960" the opinion explains "In a forfeiture proceeding, the government bears the initial burden of proving probable cause to connect the property involved in the forfeiture proceeding to some form of criminal wrongdoing. Once probable cause is established, the burden shifts to the claimant to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the property is not subject to forfeiture, or that a defense to forfeiture applies."
Under this standard, since possession is "strong evidence" which is more than "probably cause" then mere posession shifts the burden on the owner to prove his innocence.
Also keep in mind, the cases are the US government versus the money. The owner has to spend a bunch of money first establishing standing and then acting on behalf of the money being forfeited to oppose forfeiture. And one more thing, he can not use any of that money for his legal expenses.
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