Your civil asset forfeiture story of the day: West Virginia state trooper seizes $10K in cash from a couple on their way to a casino, issues nothing but a traffic ticket.
After the newspaper called, the police suddenly decided to give it all back.
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WV State Police seize $10K from couple without charging them with a crime
A West Virginia State Police trooper issued Dimitrios Patlias a warning for failing to drive within his lane, just before seizing more than $10,000 in cash from him and his wife.
On June 9, Tonya Smith — who was almost eight months pregnant — and Patlias were headed to the Hollywood Casino in Jefferson County. They had capitalized on several promotional offers and had 13 and 14 (respectively) $100 gift cards on them, along with the cash.
The trooper pulled them over, Smith said in an interview, and ranged from accusing them of smuggling cigarettes, to having drugs in the car, to gift card fraud. After searching the car, their persons, and Smith’s purse, the trooper let them go with a uniform warning citation.
However, he also took the $10,478 in cash, the 78 “gift cards” in the car, and Patlias’ smartphone, according to a property disposition report. Smith said 27 of those cards were gift cards, the rest of them were the kind of rewards program cards you get from any chain business.
Dimitrios Patlias (left) and Tonya Smith were pulled over by a West Virginia State trooper on June 9. The trooper took from the couple $10,478 in cash and the 78 gift/rewards cards they had with them.
Courtesy photo.
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After the newspaper called, the police suddenly decided to give it all back.
~~~
WV State Police seize $10K from couple without charging them with a crime
- By Jake Zuckerman Staff writer
- Aug 25, 2018
A West Virginia State Police trooper issued Dimitrios Patlias a warning for failing to drive within his lane, just before seizing more than $10,000 in cash from him and his wife.
On June 9, Tonya Smith — who was almost eight months pregnant — and Patlias were headed to the Hollywood Casino in Jefferson County. They had capitalized on several promotional offers and had 13 and 14 (respectively) $100 gift cards on them, along with the cash.
The trooper pulled them over, Smith said in an interview, and ranged from accusing them of smuggling cigarettes, to having drugs in the car, to gift card fraud. After searching the car, their persons, and Smith’s purse, the trooper let them go with a uniform warning citation.
However, he also took the $10,478 in cash, the 78 “gift cards” in the car, and Patlias’ smartphone, according to a property disposition report. Smith said 27 of those cards were gift cards, the rest of them were the kind of rewards program cards you get from any chain business.
Dimitrios Patlias (left) and Tonya Smith were pulled over by a West Virginia State trooper on June 9. The trooper took from the couple $10,478 in cash and the 78 gift/rewards cards they had with them.
Courtesy photo.
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