$3.2 million in van seized in S. Texas
Posted on 11/15/2002 1:22:15 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
$3.2 million in van seized in S. Texas
Ordinary traffic stop nets largest cash haul for DPS, two suspects
11/15/2002
At first, the Department of Public Safety trooper thought it was just a simple traffic stop. Then he found more than 400 pounds of cash hidden in the van.
When the counting was done, DPS said Thursday, troopers had seized $3,229,604 packed in three black duffel bags stashed in the back of a U-Haul van. The vehicle was stopped Nov. 8 for speeding on U.S. Highway. 77, about six miles north of Sinton in San Patricio County.
It marked the largest cash seizure made during a DPS traffic stop, said department spokeswoman Tela Mange. It surpassed the $2,660,000 seized in Parmer County in 2000.
Two men, Michael D. Meier, 40, of Brownsville and James L. Meier, 38, of Los Fresnos, Texas, were arrested and charged with money laundering. The case is under investigation by DPS narcotics officers.
"It was just ... a traffic stop. The van was speeding southbound on 77 when the trooper pulled them over," Ms. Mange said. "Both men were nervous and gave conflicting stories, which prompted the trooper to dig deeper."
After getting permission to look in the back of the van, the trooper found the cash wrapped in black plastic and stuffed in the large duffel bags, Ms. Mange said.
DPS officials declined to speculate whether the money was tied to drug trafficking but noted that the state's highways are heavily used to transport narcotics northward and to funnel the cash proceeds back to drug organizations along the border. Sinton is 25 miles northwest of Corpus Christi.
"The investigation is continuing to determine who owns the money, but investigators believe it came from the northeastern United States and was on the way to the [Rio Grande] Valley," Ms. Mange said.
DPS will ask a state judge to order the cash forfeited as "ill-gotten gains."
If so ordered, the money would be shared by DPS, the San Patricio County Sheriff's Department and other agencies who participated in the seizure.
The previous record seizure two years ago also grew out of a traffic stop near Farwell in the Panhandle, near the New Mexico state line.
A DPS trooper stopped a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 60 for a traffic violation. When the trooper asked the driver if he could search the trailer, the driver gave consent and then fainted.
Inside the trailer, troopers found nearly $2.7 million hidden in eight boxes. The driver later disavowed any knowledge of the money.
E-mail dmclemore@dallasnews.com
The WoD will be prominently mentioned.
Have at it.
DPS will ask a state judge to order the cash forfeited as "ill-gotten gains." ...
If so ordered, the money would be shared by DPS, the San Patricio County Sheriff's Department and other agencies who participated in the seizure....
Permission? Yeah, I bet. Looks like there's an incentive to "find" money. Dang, don't have cash on ya, ever.
Here is a rather simple formula you can use.
Step #1) Carry a certified copy of last years tax return with you at all times.
Step #2) Carry no more cash on your person than the net amount earned as indicated on that return.
I think Ralphie took my money to Texas..... I hate Texas!!!!
Just like in Great Britain, huh? lol ! :O)
LMAO!
What is "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop" ?
I am with you. It just seems a little too creepy that these cops are proud of the size of their latest "cash seizure". It sort of puts cash in the same category as "assault weapons", "illicit drugs", etc...
What evidence of a crime being committed was there? The presence of cash? Whew.
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