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Thread: Legal Advice: FBI Stopped Me At Airport

  1. #27
    Senior Member Bubbles's Avatar
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    When getting stopped like that, I know it's good to have a letter on you from a lawyer explaining why you have so much cash. W2's from casinos help too.

    At what monetary amount should I think about getting a letter from a lawyer? 10k+?

    So far I haven't bothered to get one. I typically have 5k or less in cash. Is it imprudent of me to not have a letter, or am i correct in assuming I'm not carrying enough to warrant it?

  2. #28


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    Quote Originally Posted by Fenix View Post
    When getting stopped like that, I know it's good to have a letter on you from a lawyer explaining why you have so much cash. W2's from casinos help too.

    At what monetary amount should I think about getting a letter from a lawyer? 10k+?

    So far I haven't bothered to get one. I typically have 5k or less in cash. Is it imprudent of me to not have a letter, or am i correct in assuming I'm not carrying enough to warrant it?
    Even a letter from an Attorney isn't enough, the agents or troopers will take one look at it and assume you, being a criminal in their eyes, printed this off at home.

    I had less than $5k in the car when my partner and I got stopped, when he asked if I had large amounts of money in the car, I asked him to define "large", and his answer was "large enough you couldn't fit it in your wallet" so I laughed and said "nope".

    I've heard of civil forfeiture issues before in the area of $1200-1500 though, so there really isn't a "right" answer on how much is too much. I'm sure in those cases of $1200-1500 though, they were dealing with 1's, 5's, and 20's. I make it a habit to constantly consolidate my smaller bills into larger bills, simply for the space and not having to sit on or open up a bulging wallet.

  3. #29


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    Quote Originally Posted by Exoter175 View Post
    Even a letter from an Attorney isn't enough, the agents or troopers will take one look at it and assume you, being a criminal in their eyes, printed this off at home.

    I had less than $5k in the car when my partner and I got stopped, when he asked if I had large amounts of money in the car, I asked him to define "large", and his answer was "large enough you couldn't fit it in your wallet" so I laughed and said "nope".

    I've heard of civil forfeiture issues before in the area of $1200-1500 though, so there really isn't a "right" answer on how much is too much. I'm sure in those cases of $1200-1500 though, they were dealing with 1's, 5's, and 20's. I make it a habit to constantly consolidate my smaller bills into larger bills, simply for the space and not having to sit on or open up a bulging wallet.
    1. Having the letter may not stop the forfeiture. But it could easily establish that the forfeiture was not reasonable, when you file suit later.

    2. I would never voluntarily disclose that I was carrying cash. I might explain why I had cash if it was found, but I would never volunteer this information.

    3. Philly was notorious for seizing even a few hundred dollars up until fairly recently.
    The Cash Cow.

  4. #30


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    True story: VERY early in my career I was going to Vegas for work, and had extended a few days after for play. I had a replenshible Hail Mary bankroll of about $4K. I had been reading this forum, and thought it would be a good idea to carry the money on me while flying, vs checking it in a bag. The agent, noticing the cash when I went through the X-ray machine, asked me what it was. I said it was cash. They said how much? I said about $4K. They asked why I had $4K strapped to my body. I said--completely seriously, as I thought it would be obvious--I was going to Vegas. They all started laughing, but that was the end of it.

    Felt like the biggest dweeb.


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  5. #31
    Senior Member Jabberwocky's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RCJH View Post
    True story: VERY early in my career I was going to Vegas for work, and had extended a few days after for play. I had a replenshible Hail Mary bankroll of about $4K. I had been reading this forum, and thought it would be a good idea to carry the money on me while flying, vs checking it in a bag. The agent, noticing the cash when I went through the X-ray machine, asked me what it was. I said it was cash. They said how much? I said about $4K. They asked why I had $4K strapped to my body. I said--completely seriously, as I thought it would be obvious--I was going to Vegas. They all started laughing, but that was the end of it.

    Felt like the biggest dweeb.


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    Now they have explosives sniffers and give a complete pat-down if they detect anything suspicious - treating you a terrorist in the process.

  6. #32
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    I hope my story checks out with the FBI and they felt no need to investigate further, thus getting the IRS involved. I mean why would they? I was not suspicious at all. No contradictions as mentioned.

    Went through same airport with similar amount and the TSA agent laughed with me. I think I got unlucky and a new TSA agent alerted his supervisor. Like come on.

  7. #33
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    I carry significant sums of cash, and I carry receipts from my bank

    (actually a Federal Credit Union) along with receipts demonstrating

    frequent large cash withdrawals from a proper banking institution.

    I have never had a spot of trouble after offering the receipts. I have

    never actually had to produce the paper receipts or photographed

    receipts on my cell phone.

  8. #34
    Senior Member Bubbles's Avatar
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    I didn't think about bank receipts. I will start carrying those.

  9. #35


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    One thing to consider with the bank accounts: if they decide to investigate you further and look at your bank account records, this could create some serious problems. The accusation is always "structuring," or making deposits to avoid the $10,000 CTR threshold. They have done things like confiscate the bank account of a small grocery store for always making cash deposits under $10,000 (i.e. their sales for the day).
    The Cash Cow.

  10. #36


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    Quote Originally Posted by moo321 View Post
    1. Having the letter may not stop the forfeiture. But it could easily establish that the forfeiture was not reasonable, when you file suit later.

    2. I would never voluntarily disclose that I was carrying cash. I might explain why I had cash if it was found, but I would never volunteer this information.

    3. Philly was notorious for seizing even a few hundred dollars up until fairly recently.
    1. That's playing one hell of a long game and exposing your cards for all to see, though.

    2. And I didn't, just wanted the definition. I didn't even get a pat down or anything, wallet was never seized. Just a drug search, as they were looking for large quantities that day and I happened to give just enough information about my travel history to throw the red flag forthem.

    3. And that's the problem with civil forfeiture today, way too big of a grey area for officers to work within. Like the IRS, there should be a line drawn at what is and is not allowed.

    Quote Originally Posted by RCJH View Post
    True story: VERY early in my career I was going to Vegas for work, and had extended a few days after for play. I had a replenshible Hail Mary bankroll of about $4K. I had been reading this forum, and thought it would be a good idea to carry the money on me while flying, vs checking it in a bag. The agent, noticing the cash when I went through the X-ray machine, asked me what it was. I said it was cash. They said how much? I said about $4K. They asked why I had $4K strapped to my body. I said--completely seriously, as I thought it would be obvious--I was going to Vegas. They all started laughing, but that was the end of it.

    Felt like the biggest dweeb.


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    Better to be laughed at, than to be taken advantage of by an employee!

    Btw, I just put the RCJH name to the avatar and a lighbulb went off. Are you in/from the RCJH area?

    Quote Originally Posted by 20 to 1 Spread View Post
    I hope my story checks out with the FBI and they felt no need to investigate further, thus getting the IRS involved. I mean why would they? I was not suspicious at all. No contradictions as mentioned.

    Went through same airport with similar amount and the TSA agent laughed with me. I think I got unlucky and a new TSA agent alerted his supervisor. Like come on.
    It sounds very much to me like you're very much under the microscope right now, and probably will be for a few weeks. I'm not sure what to suggest about the 65k, whether you deposit it and trigger the IRS, or if you hold off and wait for the FBI to knock and ask why you hadn't deposited the cash yet. Ultimately, if you try to structure the deposits, they will nail you to a cross, don't go that route.

    Quote Originally Posted by ZenMaster_Flash View Post

    I carry significant sums of cash, and I carry receipts from my bank

    (actually a Federal Credit Union) along with receipts demonstrating

    frequent large cash withdrawals from a proper banking institution.

    I have never had a spot of trouble after offering the receipts. I have

    never actually had to produce the paper receipts or photographed

    receipts on my cell phone.
    This is incredibly smart, and shows preparation. The #1 advantage an AP truly has is his preparation.

    Quote Originally Posted by Fenix View Post
    I didn't think about bank receipts. I will start carrying those.
    When I'm over 10k either on withdrawal or winnings, I keep that information on me. My most recent AP trip yielded a few W2G's, so those were kept in the glovebox should I get stopped again.

    Quote Originally Posted by moo321 View Post
    One thing to consider with the bank accounts: if they decide to investigate you further and look at your bank account records, this could create some serious problems. The accusation is always "structuring," or making deposits to avoid the $10,000 CTR threshold. They have done things like confiscate the bank account of a small grocery store for always making cash deposits under $10,000 (i.e. their sales for the day).
    And that's a huge issue here now with the OP.

    They caught him with 65k, a civilian deposits that ASAP and trips the IRS light, they clear it, no big deal. An AP will either structure or return to a home safe of sorts.

    This is where the problem now lies. The FBI is waiting for that deposit to happen. If it doesn't, they'll be on him like white on rice for not depositing the amount, as they've already made the money laundering suggestion clear to him. This is textbook money laundering behavior to them, and they'll act fast if they think they have someone by the balls. The other option, since he cares about not triggering an IRS light, is the structuring, which is illegal. If he tries this, and the FBI will be watching for this to happen, they'll be on him again as soon as you could blink, and now they've caught a rather innocent, but "spooked" man, committing a crime, and he's done for.

    Pro tip: Deposit the money, deal with the IRS like the rest of us, making a claim of income, and avoid the FBI like the plague.

    Relevant reading: http://www.middletownpress.com/artic...NEWS/309079973

  11. #37
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    Odds of someone knocking at my door anytime soon?

    I'm an Asian AP...
    Last edited by 20 to 1 Spread; 12-20-2016 at 01:56 AM.

  12. #38
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    I suspect that I have had, at the least, 60-70 CTR's over the years.
    The one time that I was audited by the I.R.S. none were at issue.

    The C.T.R. for CASH transactions of OVER $10,000 is merely paperwork
    filed with the Treasury Department's "FinCen" section, not the I.R.S.

    The I.R.S. can request same IF they are prosecuting someone on a
    tax-related charge. Simple "tax evasion" does not rise to that level of inquiry.
    Last edited by ZenMaster_Flash; 09-21-2017 at 06:57 AM.

  13. #39


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    Quote Originally Posted by 20 to 1 Spread View Post
    Odds of someone knocking at my door anytime soon?

    I'm an Asian AP...
    That depends largely on what you've done with the money. They are watching you and your accounts to see the "flow" of money, as it isn't common for people to walk through TSA with that amount of money without doing the pre-pass nowadays. Right now they've got you pegged for a very "typical" money launderer. They're going to look at your accounts, your family, if they have any personal businesses, etc. The worst for you as an "asian" AP, would be if you have family who owns a largely cash based business, such as a laundromat.

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