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Man wants his $400K back from the FBI
LimaOhio.com ^ | 12/18/07 | Greg Sowinski

Posted on 12/21/2007 12:14:30 AM PST by LibWhacker

LIMA — Two robbers who broke into Luther Ricks Sr.’s house this summer may have not gotten his life savings he had in a safe, but after the FBI confiscated it he may not get it back.

Ricks has tried to get an attorney to fight for the $402,767 but he has no money. Lima Police Department officers originally took the money from his house but the FBI stepped in and took it from the Police Department. Ricks has not been charged with a crime and was cleared in a fatal shooting of one of the robbers but still the FBI has refused to return the money, he said.

“They are saying I have to prove I made it,” he said.

The 63-year-old Ricks said he and his wife, Meredith, saved the money during their lifetime in which both worked while living a modest life.

A representative of the FBI could not be reached for comment.

During the fatal shooting incident inside the house June 30, Ricks and his son were being attacked by two men and his son was stabbed. Ricks broke free, grabbed a gun and shot to death 32-year-old Jyhno Rock inside his home at 939 Greenlawn Ave.

Police originally took the money after finding marijuana inside Ricks’ home, which Ricks said he had to help manage pain.

“I smoke marijuana. I have arthritis. I have shingles, a hip replacement,” he said.

Ricks, who is retired from Ohio Steel Foundry, said he always had a safe at home and never had a bank account.

American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Legal Director Jeff Gamso said Ricks has a tough road ahead, not impossible, but tough to get back his money.

“The law of forfeiture basically says you have to prove you’re innocent. It’s terrible, terrible law,” he said.

The law is tilted in favor of the FBI in that Ricks need not be charged with a crime and the FBI stands a good chance at keeping the money, Gamso said.

“The law will presume it is the result of ill-gotten gains,” he said.

Still Ricks can pursue it and possibly convince a judge he had the money through a lifetime of savings. Asking the FBI usually doesn’t work, he said.

“The FBI, before they would give it up, would want dated receipts,” he said.

If the FBI does keep the money, it would be put toward a law enforcement use, if the city of Lima does not fight for it because the city discovered it, Gamso said.

Lima Law Director Tony Geiger said he has not been asked to stake a legal claim for the money.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: 400k; asset; banglist; cash; constitution; donutwatch; fbi; forfeiture; highwayrobbery; marijuana; policestate; seizure; thugwithabadge; unconstitutional; wod; wodlist
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1 posted on 12/21/2007 12:14:32 AM PST by LibWhacker
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To: LibWhacker

Exactly what the founding fathers hoped the constitution would prevent.


2 posted on 12/21/2007 12:18:55 AM PST by txzman (Jer 23:29)
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To: LibWhacker

This is wrong. Another example of how the so called War on Drugs is perverting justice in America.


3 posted on 12/21/2007 12:20:17 AM PST by cowtowney
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To: LibWhacker
It theft. The FBI are thieves backed by badges and guns.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

4 posted on 12/21/2007 12:21:38 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: txzman

How screwed up is that


5 posted on 12/21/2007 12:26:53 AM PST by SShultz460 (If peace is the answer; it must be a stupid question.)
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To: IncPen

Yet another step toward...........


6 posted on 12/21/2007 12:26:56 AM PST by Nailbiter
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To: LibWhacker

Is there a law that says you can’t have X amount of money in cash form?


7 posted on 12/21/2007 12:30:08 AM PST by Cementjungle
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To: LibWhacker

G-Men, gangsters w/ a badge.


8 posted on 12/21/2007 12:33:52 AM PST by csvset
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To: LibWhacker
If the FBI does keep the money, it would be put toward a law enforcement use, if the city of Lima does not fight for it because the city discovered it, Gamso said.

"No person shall be....deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." (The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution)

The Federals and the city should be required to prove that the cash confiscated by them from the private citizen in question was, in fact, "made" through illegal activities.

9 posted on 12/21/2007 12:34:27 AM PST by rabscuttle385 (It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.)
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To: LibWhacker

It is vile that this is happening in America.


10 posted on 12/21/2007 12:37:45 AM PST by ellery (I don't remember a constitutional amendment that gives you the right not to be identified-R.Giuliani)
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To: LibWhacker
“They are saying I have to prove I made it,” he said.

Shouldn't the FBI have to prove that he didn't?

-PJ

11 posted on 12/21/2007 12:38:52 AM PST by Political Junkie Too (Repeal the 17th amendment -- it's the "Fairness Doctrine" for Congress!)
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To: Political Junkie Too
Its civil forfeiture. Apparently, its a crime to keep a large sum of money in your home even when you haven't done anything wrong.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

12 posted on 12/21/2007 12:48:35 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: LibWhacker
I’ve had shingles; I suppose the truth is: I still have shingles, it just hasn’t popped up recently. I’ve had a knee replaced. I get massively bad headaches, but I don’t smoke pot. And as much as people on here try to ignore that portion of the story, he had illicit drugs on his property, which he admitted to using.

Is it against the law to have cash? No. But if you are going to keep that much cash on hand, better make sure that you’re a law abiding citizen, or you’re going to end up in a crap problem like this.

13 posted on 12/21/2007 12:50:00 AM PST by kingu (No, I don't use sarcasm tags - it confuses people.)
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To: scan59

ping to this


14 posted on 12/21/2007 12:50:40 AM PST by babyfreep (Duncan Hunter Fan!)
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To: kingu
How do you prove a negative? The laws aimed at drug dealers are now employed to steal the life savings of law abiding citizens, leaving them destitute.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

15 posted on 12/21/2007 12:51:30 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Political Junkie Too
Shouldn't the FBI have to prove that he didn't?

Nope. Property does not have civil rights or a presumption of innocence. This is the basis of all forfeiture laws and has been upheld by the USSC.

Is it right? Personally, I think it is a travesty.

This guy will never see one thin dime of this money again. He should have opened up a savings account.

16 posted on 12/21/2007 12:51:59 AM PST by Drew68
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To: Drew68
A government that is no better than a thief deserves no respect and obedience from me.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

17 posted on 12/21/2007 12:53:28 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: LibWhacker
And one day, when someone like Mr. Ricks goes over the edge and storms a local FBI office somewhere and starts shooting people and throwing their bodies out of the windows, people will gasp in horror and say "how could someone DO that to the heroes who protect and defend us with their very LIVES?!?"

That's when someone needs to ram a xerox'd copy of this story right up their ass and say "here's why, ya dummy!".

[disclaimer: this post is not intended to advocate or encourage any act of violence against our heroes of law enforcement who protect and defend us with their very lives]
18 posted on 12/21/2007 1:02:22 AM PST by mkjessup (Hunter-Bolton '08 !! Patriots who will settle for nothing less than *Victory* in the War on Terror!)
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To: mkjessup
In a law-abiding society, the government's ability to carry out essential functions are dependent on our voluntary cooperation. We can choose to withdraw it if it transgresses the boundaries of justice and what is considered right. It is called civil disobedience. We are under no obligation to render it kindness when it does an act of evil.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

19 posted on 12/21/2007 1:08:05 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: LibWhacker

I agree with everyone that this man is being unjustly robbed by the state and it’s his right to keep his life savings in a pile of cash in his home if he wants, but I’m baffled that anyone would do that. Is this poor fellow not familiar with the concepts of compound interest and investing? Also, you don’t have to worry about robbers (common or government) coming into your home and taking all the money you have in the world if you have a savings account, IRA, mutual fund, ect.


20 posted on 12/21/2007 1:09:03 AM PST by Welsh Rabbit
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