That is totally backwards. He presented evidence that he had no criminal history. It's not his burden to prove he's innocent, but the state/feds' burden to prove he's guilty. The only thing he's guilty of is carrying money in a cooler.
I haven't read the entire case, but from the article posted, the guy isn't tied to drugs or other crimes. Obviosuly he didn't show up on the NCIC.
Again if I have a bank debit card that gives me access to $124K, does that make me a criminal? What if I decide to put $20 a week under the carpet of my car trunk and eventually that amounts to $100K. There are no laws, that I'm aware of, that prohibit having any amount of cash on you at any given time. yes you might have to account for the source of the cash, which this fellow did.
If I want to cash all my paychecks and put the cash in the trunk of my car, that is now a felony because it is over some un-discolose amount set by the feds as "suspicious"? It's not about carrying the cash, it's about being able to trace the cash. The government preferes electronic transactions they can trace.
in a situation like this the guy should be able to go to court,give a plausible explanation
He did. He still lost.
Make it $200/week. Then it'd only take you ten years.
The guy in question wasn't arrested...or jailed.The money in his possession was seized.His explanation as to its origin is suspect,IMO.
I say let this be a lesson to all...if you're on the level in your life keep your money in the bank and use checks like other "on the level" folks in this country do.