[Toadman]

Poor man forgot this fact. Govt printed his money, it was just on loan to him. So they decided to take it back.

/sarcasm

Actually that brings up an excellent point. What if he had 400k in valuable items (say diamonds or gold)? Would / could the FBI confiscate his "property" and treat it the same way they have treated the currency? Or is currency the delineating point here?

[Nailbiter]

What happened is that they found pot(drugs) so whatever they wanted they could take under forfeiture laws.
I do not think would matter if it was money or some other asset.
I am surprised they stopped at the money, usually they get the cars, house and dog

They probably could have taken his life if he had protested loudly enough.

I really am disgusted by these damn forfeiture laws for drugs possesion.

[kingu]

Actually that brings up an excellent point. What if he had 400k in valuable items (say diamonds or gold)? Would / could the FBI confiscate his "property" and treat it the same way they have treated the currency? Or is currency the delineating point here?

Let's say it was 400k in gold bars. He'd have a much easier time demonstrating purchase of that gold over time through receipts at least kept by the commodities or gold exchange the metals were purchased through. But let's take it as assumed that this is indeed what he says it is: simply a life's worth of scrimping and saving. That'd be bundles of 1's, 5's 10's and 20's in that safe. That's going to perk the eyes of any police officer, especially when drugs are later found.

There's still that lingering question - why did two guys from Tennessee come driving into Ohio to rob a house that just happened to have marijuana and 400k in cash in it? Bet the statement from the robber who escaped after stabbing the man's son has a lot of play in here. I'd imagine he's been singing like a bird in order to avoid murder charges.