Usually, government claims sovereign immunity to blow off suits. This, however, is outright theft by the government. I find it hard to believe there won’t be compensation if the story is as told and Patty gets a good lawyer to stick with it.
These “under cover” ops sure do work out well. Maybe they should focus on building a fence. Naw... too much work.
“And without Patty’s knowledge, the Drug Enforcement Administration was paying his driver, Lawrence Chapa, to use the truck to bust traffickers.”
Another ‘good’ idea from your government ... botched.
I think there’s a fourth amendment issue here - I mean, who authorized this agency to commandeer employees and equipment that are being paid for by a private businessperson, who is unaware that their equipment’s being used in a government scheme?
If Craig Patty doesn’t shut up and become a good little subject, the all munificent government will probably inspect his business, shut him down for whatever violation is convenient and then raid his house and shoot his dogs. Cynical? You bet.
Burnish think of all the benefits this War on (some) Drugs is bringing us.
Somehow, when you rent a car you are expected to return it in good shape. This however was theft not rent, I guess laws don’t apply to the goobermint under an illegal President.
At least his truck was not sold to the cartel.
I’m surprised this incident made the news at all. Thanks for the post.
Setting-up crimes makes you the criminal. There are enough real crimes being committed without L.E. creating more of them with catastrophic results.
F-ngovernment has become one word. The bastards have been running roughshod over this country ever since the, “War on Drugs” began. It is high time that this country stood up for its rights and put this f-ngovernment back in its place.
This isn’t even a dust mite on a hair of a flea on the tip of the iceberg that is government corruption.
These are the people who will be running 0bamacare.
Silly American! He actually thinks he has property rights.
The Ubermenschen in DEA will be amused by his pitiful pleas.
I do wish the above was satire.
The truck wasn’t really his, since he didn’t build that company. The government provided the schools that educated his workers. The government provided the road that his trucks drove on. The government even provided the cops and bullets to shoot his driver. He needs to stop complaining and pay a higher tax rate. He’s doing less business without the lost truck and worker, but he still needs to carry his share of the load.
there is no constitution, there is no law when it comes to the US government and those in it and we, the people, don’t own anything, the government owns it all. either get used to that fact or do something about it
If this was anything like Fast & Furious, they'd be bringing drugs north and not tracking them. Of course, the government would NEVER do such a thing as allow illegal drug running to finance a political agenda. /s
I hope that Craig Patty starts a fund for donations. The Feds and state will draw this out to bankrupt him, or at least make it no longer worth his while. And if he starts litigation, his business will be investigated to damage his credibility.
Oh Puhleeze.
If the DEA hadn't been using the (now deceased) driver as a spy/informant, they would have siezed the truck and claimed they'd made a big bust.
Now, for an intangible: This man's company has been tied, by virtue of a DEA operation carried out without his knowledge, to drug smuggling.
The oil patch is pretty strongly against drug use, and as a rule very conservative.
If this guy makes his living by hauling frac sand for the oil industry, the DEA has placed a stain on his company's reputation by tying it in with drug smuggling.
(Not to mention ginning up an excuse now to check every load of frac sand, which would make the ecowhackos in the administration just short of orgasmic).
The government has, through the DEA, stolen his truck, performed unauthorized use of that motor vehicle in conjunction with what would normally be considered a criminal act, causing a loss of revenue, wear and tear on and unusual damage to the vehicle, and the loss of an employee's life, as well as damaged the reputation of his company.
Compensation is due, and some people should be either prosecuted, or at the least fired, for the actions as well.
Ping!