Police Seize $107k From Couple Without Charging Them For A Crime

The police stopped a couple carrying over $107,000 in cash and seized the “crime” money. However, it seems that it was legitimately theirs. The couple went to get it back, but that’s when their problems really started.

After hours of questioning but no evidence of a crime, the police eventually let the Perrys go. However, they used civil forfeiture law to keep every dollar in the truck, as well as the vehicle itself, and even Mrs. Perry’s wedding rings, without law enforcement having to press even a single charge, under only the assumption that the money and vehicle were tied to illegal activity.

Years later, the Perrys were still left fighting to get their property back after a federal judge demanded that the couple prove how they got the money. However, Adam Perry argued that not only has he and his wife already provided an explanation, but they shouldn’t have to prove their innocence. Instead, it should be the police and prosecutors who need to prove guilt. Unfortunately, that’s not how civil forfeiture works. “This is not Nazi Germany where you can treat people like this,” Mr. Perry wrote in a letter to the federal judge. “You should be treating me innocent until proven guilty and not denying me my right to counsel,” Adam added. “I even begged and said please just give me my truck back and you can keep the money and I’ll walk away from it. Still denied,” he continued. “You don’t understand the emotional, physical and financial terrorism you have caused.”

The judge didn’t agree. Four years of fighting later, the federal judge granted a government request to keep the cash found in the Ashburnham, Massachusetts, couple’s vehicle during the traffic stop. According to Mass Live, “Judge Sara Darrow, of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, said the couple failed to answer questions about where the funds came from,” as she granted the request to permanently reward the funds to the government.