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 veggie
Registered: 07/26/04
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 Cops rake in millions from drug busts [CA] 
#8663305 - 07/21/08 03:31 PM (4 years, 9 months ago) |
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Cops rake in millions from drug busts
July 20, 2008 - bakersfield.com
It's the largest seizure of drug money in Kern County Sheriff's Department narcotics team history — and the department might get to keep most of nearly $900,000, officials say.
Late last month, the department seized the cash when three men with business ties in Bakersfield attempted to buy 40 kilos of cocaine from an undercover agent.
If it's proven that the cash is indeed drug money, it could be used by law enforcement to buy such things as shotguns, surveillance equipment and police dogs, as in past years. Drug money has also been used to fund drug and gang prevention programs.
It's called asset forfeiture, and officials say it's necessary to disrupt criminal organizations that hurt the community, and at the same time give back to that community and help law agencies fight more crime.
DIRTY MONEY
Asset forfeiture essentially takes the profit out of crime, officials say, depriving criminals of the proceeds from illegal activity.
“Our goal anytime is to disrupt or dismantle a crime organization,” said Sheriff's Lt. Mike Rascoe. “Drugs are funding the organization, and money is used to purchase drugs to fund their organization.”
“We want to get the money and drugs off of the street,” added Sgt. Otis Whinery, who worked on the $900,000 bust.
A federal law passed in 1986 gave agencies authority to seize drug assets as a way to crack down on drug profiteers and pump up crime-fighting budgets. Strict regulations went into effect afterward when officials started taking advantage of loose rules.
“They would find a marijuana joint on a yacht and seize the boat,” Whinery said. “They have since done away with that because of abuse.”
Now, district attorney's officials must prove seized items were bought using “dirty money,” or give it back to its owner.
“It's our burden to prove that it's drug money,” said Ken Green, county deputy district attorney.
For instance, one of the three men arrested in the $900,000 bust also owns a local auto lube and car wash business. The company was not seized because the Sheriff’s Department could not say for sure that it was a “drug business.” The investigation is ongoing.
Finally, a criminal case must lead to a conviction before money is dispersed to agencies, Green said.
Critics say asset forfeiture is more about supplementing budgets than taking drugs off of the street, and that the law leans more toward agencies who take money than those whose money is seized.
THE CUT
Sixty-five percent of the seized money goes to law enforcement agencies involved in the bust, then they decide how to split it. Fifteen percent of that agency money must be used for programs combating drug abuse and gang activity.
Ten percent of the money automatically goes to the district attorney's office, and 24 percent goes to the state. The remaining 1 percent goes to the state district attorney's association to be used for asset forfeiture training and education, according to the district attorney's office, which handles all county asset forfeiture cases.
So how many forfeitures happen each year?
In 2006 — the latest figures available — there were 4,995 forfeitures statewide, bringing in more than $38 million. Kern County had 132 of those cases resulting in $1,334,642 in seizures — the ninth most out in all state counties.
Currently, the Sheriff's department has nearly $292,000 in its asset forfeiture account, while the police department has about $1.1 million, officials said. In comparison, the total police department budget is just over $70 million, while the Sheriff’s Department budget is nearly $180 million.
WHAT IT’S USED FOR
Before strict guidelines went into effect, the Sheriff's department got a plane out of a bust. A deputy noticed one flying in the fog in a remote area and reported it, officials said.
The plane was found at Meadows Field and was being used to haul drug cargo. The department seized it, and it is now used to catch pot plant growers in Kern County mountains, officials said.
Illegally obtained property, like boats, cars, and real estate, are sold at auctions. Drugs seized by agencies are destroyed.
At the Sheriff's department, the cash has been used to beef up security at Lerdo Jail, buy surveillance and protective equipment for narcotics officers, and to reimburse the cost of the investigations that make busts possible.
It also goes toward gang and crime prevention programs, as well as the department's activities league, a nonprofit charity. The same goes for the police department.
The police department has used seized money to purchase police dogs, computer equipment for patrol cars and the D.A.R.E program. The department is in the process of buying a new bomb squad vehicle using $140,000 from the forfeiture fund, said Lt. Scott McDonald.
“It really helps us eliminate the profitability of drugs, and convert it for doing good things,” McDonald said.
Sometimes, alleged criminals will fight for their money, Green said, because “it's easy to do time in prison if you have $100,000 when you come out.”
Law enforcement officials said they don't care which illegal items they seize, as long as the stuff is off of the streets.
“We get satisfaction in disrupting an organization,” Rascoe said. “It doesn't matter if it's drugs, money or property.”
“The way I see it, the money is icing on the cake.”
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 Nickio
Authority
 
Registered: 03/14/07
Posts: 321
Last seen: 2 years, 8 months
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Re: Cops rake in millions from drug busts [CA] [Re: veggie]
#8663804 - 07/21/08 06:13 PM (4 years, 9 months ago) |
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+millions thanks to excellent police work
-BILLIONS DUE TO OUTDATED AND IRRESPONSIBLE DRUG LAWS THANKS AMERICA
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Irieforester
Head to toe inH2O
Registered: 03/10/08
Posts: 515
Loc: That state seperating fro...
Last seen: 8 months, 7 days
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Re: Cops rake in millions from drug busts [CA] [Re: Nickio]
#8664418 - 07/21/08 09:03 PM (4 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
If it's proven that the cash is indeed drug money, it could be used by law enforcement to buy such things as shotguns, surveillance equipment and police dogs
God forbid that money go to the impoverished schools in L.A., or some drug rehabilitation programs, or anything useful.
No, it goes to shotguns and police dogs.
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I am still and forever learning
Apollyphelion said:
You can learn A LOT from shitting in the right set and setting!
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Coaster
Baʿal
Registered: 05/22/06
Posts: 33,501
Loc: Deep in the Valley
Last seen: 1 year, 7 months
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Re: Cops rake in millions from drug busts [CA] [Re: Irieforester]
#8664457 - 07/21/08 09:08 PM (4 years, 9 months ago) |
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ya rehab exactly
or drug prevention programs
something smart at least
maybe a fund for hospitols for ODs
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ThirdEyeOpening
Lost In My Head
Registered: 08/24/04
Posts: 2,287
Loc: How the fuck should i kno...
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Re: Cops rake in millions from drug busts [CA] [Re: Coaster]
#8665066 - 07/21/08 11:22 PM (4 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hospitals! are you kidding!
Can you imagine how many shotguns they can buy?
Like 10-20, plus rounds.
Fuck one hospital.
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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity. Im not too sure about the former. -Einstein
Of course the rules need to be enforced, but the goal of law and order should be to create a just society, not to enforce laws. -Unknown
“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” -Stephen Roberts
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Groomies
Ghost
Registered: 08/16/07
Posts: 1,119
Last seen: 3 months, 11 days
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Re: Cops rake in millions from drug busts [CA] [Re: ThirdEyeOpening]
#8665872 - 07/22/08 01:36 AM (4 years, 9 months ago) |
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you can't ever have enough shotguns. you know how cool it is to have it hang there in their cars? for them its kinda like crome rims to mexicans or blacks.
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johnm214
Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 16,596
Loc: Americas
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Re: Cops rake in millions from drug busts [CA] [Re: Irieforester]
#8666729 - 07/22/08 09:25 AM (4 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Irieforester said:
Quote:
If it's proven that the cash is indeed drug money, it could be used by law enforcement to buy such things as shotguns, surveillance equipment and police dogs
God forbid that money go to the impoverished schools in L.A., or some drug rehabilitation programs, or anything useful.
No, it goes to shotguns and police dogs.
exactly...
I'm so fucking glad cops have more shotguns, surveillance equipment, and police dogs.
The war on drugs needs to stop in all its permutations.
Its such an injustice...Its fucking theft, its assault, its kidnapping, and its wrong.
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero
Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,394
Loc: Caribbean
Last seen: 3 months, 9 days
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Re: Cops rake in millions from drug busts [CA] [Re: johnm214]
#8666747 - 07/22/08 09:33 AM (4 years, 9 months ago) |
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Private property (legally) confiscated by police should be auctioned and all proceeds should be returned to the tax payers as refund checks at the end of the year. The police/government should not profit from confiscated property; the conflict of interest ultimately leads to abuse.
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Just another spore in the wind.
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