The FBI is trying to confiscate the nearly $1.1-million bounty. It says the money is tied to federal drug or money-laundering crimes, but has specified no unlawful conduct and charged no one with a crime.
Empyreal, a Pennsylvania company that transports cash for dispensaries, convenience stores and other clients in 28 states, relies on banks and credit unions to do the federally mandated due diligence on marijuana outfits whose cash it carries, said Deirdra O’Gorman, Empyreal’s chief executive. The company checks state licensing records to verify compliance, she said.
The next morning, the DEA put the driver under surveillance as she made her stops in Kansas City. On her way back through Kansas, the same sheriff’s deputy stopped her again on I-70. This time, the deputy seized the more than $165,000 in cash that the driver had collected at five state-licensed dispensaries in Missouri.
The deputy responded, “We’ll start taking them all down at once,” according to an Empyreal court filing. In its court papers, Empyreal says Deputy Jonathan Franco’s apparent confusion over how the company operates led him to falsely tell the judge that it converts dispensaries’ cash into cryptocurrency. Empyreal says Franco also falsely told the judge that some of the pot stores whose cash was in the van were unlicensed. Franco’s warrant application stated that Empyreal lacked a marijuana business license. The company says no license is required to carry cash from legal dispensaries to banks.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
FBI and San Bernardino County sheriff accused of breaking law by seizing marijuana cashThe case has also rekindled allegations that federal law enforcement agencies in Southern California have been abusing forfeiture laws by seizing cash and valuables from people when the government has no evidence that they committed crimes.
Baca lebih lajut »
Decision looms for start of big downtown San Jose tech campusA development alliance is readying a decision about when — or whether — to launch construction of a huge tech campus that’s proposed for downtown San Jose.
Baca lebih lajut »
San Francisco police boost 'Doodler' reward to $200K, link 6th victim to killerTo this day, the real identity of the 'Doodler' is not known and the mystery has inspired citizen detectives around the globe to try to decipher whodunit.
Baca lebih lajut »
VIDEO: San Bruno jewelry store owner stops attempted smash-and-grab robberyMaaz Jewelers owner Usman Bhatti sends out this message to lawmakers: 'Do something, anything, it's their job to protect us, to make some sort of law, we can protect ourselves at least.'
Baca lebih lajut »
San Francisco's Castro District allows new bars for 1st time in more than 30 yearsThe LGBTQ+ neighborhood is known for its nightlife, but over the years the number of bars in the area has dwindled to fewer than 10.
Baca lebih lajut »