Here’s something I’ve never seen before & can’t find anywhere: a fed agent seized $115K from a man @RDUAirport. The agent says he’s going to launch a fed investigation of money laundering & drug activity.
Then offers the man a way out: surrender his cash & no investigation:
That man’s name is Ramon Lyon. He says he was flying to Cali to buy gaming machines for his gaming biz in Raleigh.
He packed his $115K in his luggage & showed up for his flight. He ended up in an interrogation room…
Lyon arrived @RDUAirport & gave his bag to @TSA to be scanned. He says he absolutely knew TSA would see the cash, but said he also knew there is no law limiting the amount of cash one can fly with in the U.S.
That’s Lyon watching a TSA officer take custody of his red carry-on.
Lyon ended up being interrogated by a citizen cop who is cross sworn as a Task Force Officer for the feds. The officer typically wouldn’t have the authority to seize money, but can when he’s working as a fed.
The TFO questions Lyon about his money, trip, etc. He then tells Lyon he believes some of his story, but is seizing his money anyway under Civil Asset Forfeiture.
The officer has the authority—w/no other articulated evidence—to seize the cash on site based on his assumptions.
The @RDUAirport seizure affidavit included statements from an officer who wasn’t on scene to establish probable cause to take Lyon’s cash.
Feds say he lied about details & cited his criminal record as elements to support the seizure. Lyon’s last conviction: Jan 2011.
Lyon hired William Pruden, a Raleigh asset forfeiture attorney to fight the government for his money.
15 months later, the feds have never charged Lyon but still have his $115K.
Cody James had $27,600 seized from him at Charlotte-Douglas Intl Airport in July. He called us after it happened.
A @CMPD officer acting as a fed agent seized his money after the @TSA spotted the cash in James’ backpack. The TSA didn’t mention it, but called the feds instead.
James said the @CMPD officer working as a TFO for @DHSgov didn’t say why they were taking his cash.
@CMPD wouldn’t interview with us to find out why, instead referred us to DHS who also wouldn’t interview.
James left with this form, which doesn’t include a dollar total.
James sent us a copy of this letter he got a few weeks after we interviewed him. @DHSgov said an ICE agent seized his money & the money was “Traceable to Controlled Substances.”
DHS didn’t say how it knew that. Also notable, he was snagged only by going into an airport.
Again, flying with cash within US borders is absolutely legal. You do not have to tell the govt about the cash.
But @TSA is still flagging people & causing billions of dollars to be seized in American airports. The TSA’s own rule book says it’s legal, but TSA is the watchdog.
@TSA spokesman couldn’t tell me exactly what the threshold is that causes his agency to call the feds when they see cash. Says TSA’s job is to keep “dangerous items” off aircraft.
Says when TSA sees something “suspicious” they alert law enforcement.
@DanAlban with @IJ is suing @TSA, DEA & US govt over this. Alban says the TSA & feds have a “See cash, seize cash” policy & are taking cash from innocent people.
The IJ class action lawsuit is active & pending & could end these seizures by forcing the govt to prove allegations.
@RepWalberg filed legislation in Congress (FAIR Act) that could end these seizures. The bill’s stuck in committee since April.
We tried to interview Walberg for this investigation, but his staff wouldn’t schedule it.
Another interesting thing about these seizures, most all stay in the civil court. Means the feds don’t have to prove their allegation as they would in a civil court.
The @USAttorneys file “in rem” proceedings. This is where they accuse the money of being illegal.
The govt has to only show through a preponderance of the evidence that the money was gotten through illegal means.
The person it was seized from has to prove it wasn’t.
Check out our complete Cash Grab investigation @FOX46News. If you’ve had your cash seized or know someone who has, call/email me:
Cell: 512-269-1557
Email: Jody.barr@fox46.com
FULL REPORT:
fox46.com/news/investiga…
One last point on the @RDUAirport seizure. Here’s the evidence the govt presented to take the man’s $115K.
Also, instead of proving he was carrying dirty money w/an inv, the feds would’ve ignored any criminal activity if he gave them the money. The proof is right here on video:
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