Posted on 09/04/2010 9:09:34 AM PDT by One_Upmanship
YORK At least $1 million in cash was discovered inside a tractor-trailer Friday afternoon during a routine inspection along the turnpike.
Maine State Police said they found the stash of cash after detaining the driver and a passenger while they examined driver logs.
The driver, 35-year-old Jhon Rivera-Ramirez, was ultimately arrested for falsifying logs. He was later released on bail.
State police said Ramirez was traveling with a passenger, Jose Javier Perez, 46, who was not charged in the stop.
Police did not say where the men were coming from or where they were going. State Police Lt. Thomas Kelly said there was no other cargo inside the trailer.
"They were hauling cash," Kelly said. "That's all they were hauling."
Investigators from the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit made the initial stop. Police said the rig is registered in Texas.
When officers inspected the back of the rig, they found an odd sight five gallon pails lined with pink bags and stuffed with bills of varying denominations.
Kelly said $1 million is only an estimate and probably a conservative one.
"It hasn't been counted yet," he said. "We're still early into the investigation."
It was, he said, the largest cash seizure in Maine's history.
By Friday night, Ramirez remained free on bail. Federal agents were expected to join the probe.
In recent years, the smuggling of bulk currency has become the preferred method for criminals to move illicit proceeds across our borders, according to Maine Public Safety Spokesman Stephen McCausland.
It is a crime to smuggle or attempt to smuggle over $10,000 in currency or monetary instruments into or out of the United States.
Maybe they were on the way to Vegas, for a big weekend. Seems to me that is about the amount of money it takes for a week end at the Wynn.
What you want is a well-dressed older gentleman driving a late model luxury car, and obeying the traffic laws. The police wont look at him twice.
That is one way but in the event that the gentleman is stopped for something else, or, assuming that this is destined for the southern border, that the car gets jacked while the gentleman is eating or sleeping, what would be better?
What is wrong with hiding in plain sight by utilizing an armored truck? Wear some security guard uniforms, tag team drive so you don't have the curiosity problem with a truck parked outside a hotel, hit a car wash every now and then to make it look like a local run, and work your way to the border.
You get security, it would take some serious brass ones to stop without PC, and you have practically removed the need to explain why there is money in the truck. If anything the drivers can explain that company policy regarding security requires that the officers should contact the "company headquarters" for information regarding the contents, the origination and destination.
“Campaign contributions???”
Drug money.
>Did the county need a new jail<
>>one that would pass state and federal guidelines.<<
A room with no windows and a slot under the door is sufficient to hold criminals. I’m not one who would ever turn on the air conditioning for a criminal.
If they don’t like the treatment then stay out of my county.
***The driver, 35-year-old Jhon Rivera-Ramirez, was ultimately arrested for falsifying logs. He was later released on bail.
State police said Ramirez was traveling with a passenger, Jose Javier Perez, 46, who was not charged in the stop.***
Those crazy Swedes again!!!
Yeah, they let him out on bail but he probably begged them not to!
The dreaded RED X in a BOX!!!!!!!!!!
There are plenty of places in Maine where you can cross into Canada without going through a border crossing. Bet they are vamoose with the moose. As someone up-thread said, they are dead men.
Sorry. Perhaps a reload will help. Otherwise, this is it:
http://www.watchmoviestreaming.com/pictures/dumbanddumber1.jpg
I am at work, and when I tried to access this, I got the BIGGEST “ACCESS DENIED” you ever saw :>)
I’ll check it at home.
Well, in case the mystery is too much, it’s just an picture from Dumb and Dumber.
Now if these two near-do-wells were traveling north, instead of south as the article says, with the loot, the exchange rate in Canada is favorable. $1M US = 1039500 CAD.
Yes. That is what they were up to, and they lost their sense of direction.
He got stopped in Mississippi and said the cop looked at him and said *boy you are in mississippi now, lets start* And you better be polite or your ass is grass.
Unless they have any kind of proof that the money was obtained illegally its outrageous to arrest the man. Carrying American currency in America should not be a crime.
A Ron Paul campaign worker was detained by Lambert International Airport security in St. Louis for carrying $3000 in cash in 2008. Fortunately, he was well-versed in the law and did not succumb to intimidation, but the fact remains that they detained him and interrogated him for no good reason. He also managed to surreptitiously record the interrogation. Eventually, the FBI was called and immediately released the man, then proceeded to investigate the security personnel. Unfortunately, he had already missed his flight and was no reimbursed for his time.
Thats the point. If he doesn’t show up, they no one contesting them keeping the money...
Where have you been the past decade or so? They don't even have to charge you with a crime to steal your money.
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