0:00:00.000,0:00:03.856
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

0:00:03.856,0:00:12.748


0:00:12.748,0:00:14.790
I just wanted to tell you,[br]Officer Brown, I mean,

0:00:14.790,0:00:17.490
you're taking money out of[br]my kids' mouths right now.

0:00:17.490,0:00:17.990
I'm sorry.

0:00:17.990,0:00:19.740
You're taking food out[br]of my kids' mouths.

0:00:19.740,0:00:21.530
Like I said, we[br]believe right now

0:00:21.530,0:00:23.700
that this is drug[br]proceeds, illicit currency.

0:00:23.700,0:00:25.617
Well, I'm going to prove[br]to you that it's not.

0:00:25.617,0:00:26.178
Perfect.

0:00:26.178,0:00:29.664
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

0:00:29.664,0:00:33.150
[SIREN BLARING]

0:00:33.150,0:00:36.138


0:00:36.138,0:00:39.624
[RADIO CHATTER]

0:00:39.624,0:00:42.620


0:00:42.620,0:00:44.750
That clip shows a[br]retired US marine

0:00:44.750,0:00:47.460
being robbed of his life savings[br]on the side of a highway.

0:00:47.460,0:00:51.240
He was not arrested for, charged[br]with, or convicted of any crime.

0:00:51.240,0:00:52.800
He wasn't even ticketed.

0:00:52.800,0:00:55.340
This is a rare glimpse[br]into an abuse of power

0:00:55.340,0:00:58.950
that thousands of innocent[br]Americans experience each year.

0:00:58.950,0:01:00.840
Through a public[br]records request,

0:01:00.840,0:01:04.459
The Institute for Justice was[br]able to acquire body and dashcam

0:01:04.459,0:01:07.010
footage of an entire[br]roadside seizure,

0:01:07.010,0:01:10.280
from the initial traffic stop to[br]the seized money being deposited

0:01:10.280,0:01:11.100
at the bank.

0:01:11.100,0:01:14.150
This is the most complete[br]footage we have ever seen.

0:01:14.150,0:01:18.200
On February 19, 2021,[br]our client Stephen Lara

0:01:18.200,0:01:21.720
was pulled over outside of Reno[br]by the Nevada Highway Patrol.

0:01:21.720,0:01:24.410
He was driving to visit his[br]daughters in a small California

0:01:24.410,0:01:26.005
town just West of Reno.

0:01:26.005,0:01:29.262
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

0:01:29.262,0:01:32.570


0:01:32.570,0:01:35.180
The driver of this vehicle[br]was following the red and blue

0:01:35.180,0:01:37.430
semi-truck too closely,[br]less than a second following

0:01:37.430,0:01:40.336
distance.

0:01:40.336,0:01:43.551
Also driving under the[br]speed limit, which I thought

0:01:43.551,0:01:44.970
was really odd.

0:01:44.970,0:01:46.430
And I'm going to[br]stop him up here.

0:01:46.430,0:01:49.160
[INAUDIBLE] a little[br]bit safer [INAUDIBLE].

0:01:49.160,0:01:50.660
Make sure everything's OK.

0:01:50.660,0:01:52.970
Yeah, initially, I[br]thought I was getting

0:01:52.970,0:01:55.770
pulled over because[br]maybe I had expired tags.

0:01:55.770,0:01:56.820
I had a rental car.

0:01:56.820,0:01:59.690
Unfortunately, I had[br]some car trouble.

0:01:59.690,0:02:05.180
And that was necessary to get a[br]rental car for a short duration

0:02:05.180,0:02:06.950
for that weekend.

0:02:06.950,0:02:07.680
I'm doing great.

0:02:07.680,0:02:08.509
Hey, the reason[br]I'm stopping you,

0:02:08.509,0:02:10.199
we have a special enforcement[br]campaign going on.

0:02:10.199,0:02:12.140
We're trying to educate drivers[br]about violations they may not

0:02:12.140,0:02:13.370
realize they're[br]committing but we're

0:02:13.370,0:02:15.300
seeing a big increase[br]in crashes out here.

0:02:15.300,0:02:17.040
First, applaud you[br]on your driving.

0:02:17.040,0:02:18.030
You drive great.

0:02:18.030,0:02:19.230
You're driving really slow.

0:02:19.230,0:02:21.020
It appears that you're[br]trying to drive safely

0:02:21.020,0:02:21.780
under the speed limit.

0:02:21.780,0:02:22.440
I appreciate that.

0:02:22.440,0:02:24.060
I just want to talk to about[br]your following distance,

0:02:24.060,0:02:25.710
especially around[br]commercial vehicles.

0:02:25.710,0:02:28.250
The Highway Patrol Officer[br]seems friendly and reasonable

0:02:28.250,0:02:31.020
at first, even complimenting[br]Stephen's driving.

0:02:31.020,0:02:33.200
He orders Stephen[br]to exit his vehicle

0:02:33.200,0:02:36.350
and starts asking him a series[br]of questions unrelated to why

0:02:36.350,0:02:37.530
he was pulled over.

0:02:37.530,0:02:39.560
Police often ask[br]questions like this

0:02:39.560,0:02:42.200
to see if a suspect's[br]story lines up.

0:02:42.200,0:02:43.465
You a fighter?

0:02:43.465,0:02:44.192
Am I a fighter?

0:02:44.192,0:02:45.650
Yeah, you've got[br]a Tapout shirt on.

0:02:45.650,0:02:48.000
[CHUCKLES] Well, I've[br]got a lot of training.

0:02:48.000,0:02:48.990
I'm a retired Marine.

0:02:48.990,0:02:50.487
What do your daughters do, man?

0:02:50.487,0:02:52.320
Ever been in trouble[br]law enforcement before?

0:02:52.320,0:02:53.250
When did you leave?

0:02:53.250,0:02:54.060
When did you leave?

0:02:54.060,0:02:56.130
What part of Texas are you[br]thinking of buying a house in?

0:02:56.130,0:02:57.713
What were you doing[br]for work up there?

0:02:57.713,0:02:59.990
The officer then[br]explains the real reason

0:02:59.990,0:03:01.377
he pulled Stephen over.

0:03:01.377,0:03:03.960
Hey, while I'm working on this,[br]let me ask you something, man.

0:03:03.960,0:03:06.477
This is going to[br]sound kind of weird.

0:03:06.477,0:03:08.060
Part of my job out[br]here is I do what's

0:03:08.060,0:03:09.800
called Highway Interdiction.

0:03:09.800,0:03:11.840
I look for people that[br]are smuggling contraband

0:03:11.840,0:03:15.840
through our state, across the[br]country, weapons, humans, drugs,

0:03:15.840,0:03:17.490
illicit currency,[br]things like that.

0:03:17.490,0:03:19.430
Anything in the vehicle[br]I should be aware of?

0:03:19.430,0:03:19.930
Nothing.

0:03:19.930,0:03:21.090
OK.

0:03:21.090,0:03:21.820
No firearms?

0:03:21.820,0:03:22.320
Nothing.

0:03:22.320,0:03:23.050
No explosives?

0:03:23.050,0:03:23.550
None.

0:03:23.550,0:03:25.682
OK.

0:03:25.682,0:03:27.140
Are there any drugs[br]in the vehicle?

0:03:27.140,0:03:27.640
No.

0:03:27.640,0:03:28.580
Cocaine?

0:03:28.580,0:03:29.550
I don't do drugs.

0:03:29.550,0:03:31.842
Yeah, I've got to ask all[br]these silly questions, right?

0:03:31.842,0:03:32.800
There's no drugs.

0:03:32.800,0:03:34.217
There's no weapons[br]in the vehicle.

0:03:34.217,0:03:35.600
OK.

0:03:35.600,0:03:38.670
Any large amounts of United[br]States currency in the vehicle?

0:03:38.670,0:03:39.170
Yes.

0:03:39.170,0:03:39.950
OK.

0:03:39.950,0:03:44.400
What's a large amount[br]of US currency to you?

0:03:44.400,0:03:45.890
Anything over $10,000.

0:03:45.890,0:03:46.680
OK.

0:03:46.680,0:03:48.185
So there's over[br]$10,000 in there?

0:03:48.185,0:03:48.685
Yes.

0:03:48.685,0:03:50.227
How much money have[br]you got in there?

0:03:50.227,0:03:50.780
A whole lot.

0:03:50.780,0:03:51.640
[LAUGHS] OK.

0:03:51.640,0:03:54.060
I don't trust banks so[br]I keep my own money.

0:03:54.060,0:03:55.550
Fair enough.

0:03:55.550,0:03:58.110
Would you give me permission[br]to search your vehicle today?

0:03:58.110,0:03:58.610
Yeah.

0:03:58.610,0:03:59.940
If that's OK with you?

0:03:59.940,0:04:00.440
Sure.

0:04:00.440,0:04:01.550
OK, perfect.

0:04:01.550,0:04:03.420
Although it's Stephen's[br]right to refuse,

0:04:03.420,0:04:06.360
he gives the officer[br]permission to search his car.

0:04:06.360,0:04:11.400
I didn't want to[br]come across as being

0:04:11.400,0:04:15.100
non-cooperative or combative.

0:04:15.100,0:04:17.560
So I did what I felt was right.

0:04:17.560,0:04:21.940
And I was very honest,[br]very forthcoming.

0:04:21.940,0:04:24.070
I was also very respectful.

0:04:24.070,0:04:26.850
And I just wanted to make[br]their job as easy as possible

0:04:26.850,0:04:30.760
so that I could be on my way[br]to spend time with my children.

0:04:30.760,0:04:34.120
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

0:04:34.120,0:04:34.620


0:04:34.620,0:04:36.240
Hey, Shane, how are you?

0:04:36.240,0:04:36.750
Good.

0:04:36.750,0:04:38.200
Hey, can you head[br]out to a traffic stop

0:04:38.200,0:04:40.325
or are you busy on that[br]other stuff going on today?

0:04:40.325,0:04:45.390


0:04:45.390,0:04:48.300
So far, I'm still searching a[br]car, but a big bundle of money.

0:04:48.300,0:04:51.180
He says, probably,[br]at least $100,000.

0:04:51.180,0:04:54.120
That interaction shows what's[br]at the heart of the officer's

0:04:54.120,0:04:55.390
interest in Stephen.

0:04:55.390,0:04:57.700
He knows that even though[br]Stephen did nothing wrong,

0:04:57.700,0:05:00.240
the DEA will adopt the[br]seizure of his cash

0:05:00.240,0:05:01.890
and return a[br]portion of the money

0:05:01.890,0:05:04.960
to the Highway Patrol for the[br]favor of giving them the case.

0:05:04.960,0:05:08.370
Here's how an adoption works.

0:05:08.370,0:05:12.850
When state or local police seize[br]cash, cars, or other property,

0:05:12.850,0:05:15.610
federal law enforcement[br]takes over the forfeiture.

0:05:15.610,0:05:17.700
The federal agency[br]does all the work

0:05:17.700,0:05:21.900
and kicks back up to 80% of the[br]proceeds to the state agency

0:05:21.900,0:05:23.700
that seized the property.

0:05:23.700,0:05:25.470
In Stephen's case,[br]that would mean

0:05:25.470,0:05:27.810
the DEA would take[br]control of the cash

0:05:27.810,0:05:30.370
and seek to forfeit it[br]through federal law,

0:05:30.370,0:05:32.250
ignoring the[br]important limitations

0:05:32.250,0:05:36.010
that Nevada law places on[br]seizures and forfeitures.

0:05:36.010,0:05:41.400
In 2019 alone, federal[br]agencies made $334 million

0:05:41.400,0:05:44.970
in equitable sharing payments to[br]state and local law enforcement

0:05:44.970,0:05:46.000
agencies.

0:05:46.000,0:05:49.710
In this case, the Nevada Highway[br]Patrol stands to gain nearly

0:05:49.710,0:05:54.103
$70,000 by taking[br]Steven's money.

0:05:54.103,0:05:55.770
I think you're a good[br]guy, and I don't--

0:05:55.770,0:05:56.530
I am a good guy.

0:05:56.530,0:05:57.030
Yeah.

0:05:57.030,0:05:58.860
[CHUCKLES] So how[br]much cash is that?

0:05:58.860,0:05:59.710
About $100,000.

0:05:59.710,0:06:01.172
$100,000.

0:06:01.172,0:06:03.850
So as you know, I'm a vet.

0:06:03.850,0:06:04.390
He's a vet.

0:06:04.390,0:06:05.280
You're a vet.

0:06:05.280,0:06:07.650
It's not illegal to carry[br]currency, have currency.

0:06:07.650,0:06:11.430
[INAUDIBLE] It does, though,[br]make us ask some questions

0:06:11.430,0:06:13.240
on why someone has $100,000.

0:06:13.240,0:06:15.510
I can understand why you[br]don't trust banks, especially

0:06:15.510,0:06:16.760
in this day and age right now.

0:06:16.760,0:06:18.640
Stephen keeps his[br]savings in cash.

0:06:18.640,0:06:19.870
Maybe that's uncommon.

0:06:19.870,0:06:22.437
But as the officer[br]acknowledges, it's not illegal.

0:06:22.437,0:06:23.770
I have nothing to hide from you.

0:06:23.770,0:06:24.773
I appreciate that.

0:06:24.773,0:06:25.690
Give me a few seconds.

0:06:25.690,0:06:27.522
I'll make a couple phone calls.

0:06:27.522,0:06:29.770
The officer first[br]calls his superior.

0:06:29.770,0:06:33.905
He interrupts that call to[br]speak again with the DEA agent.

0:06:33.905,0:06:36.480
Hey, Sarge, are you[br]on your way out here?

0:06:36.480,0:06:38.610
Oh.

0:06:38.610,0:06:39.280
OK.

0:06:39.280,0:06:40.560
I'm waiting to hear[br]back from Shane

0:06:40.560,0:06:41.727
to see if he comes out here.

0:06:41.727,0:06:46.200
This is a strange one,[br]but not a strange one.

0:06:46.200,0:06:47.510
Consented to a search.

0:06:47.510,0:06:48.760
Said there was money up there.

0:06:48.760,0:06:51.070
We located what he[br]says is $100,000.

0:06:51.070,0:06:53.915
It's in a Ziploc[br]sandwich baggie.

0:06:53.915,0:06:56.380
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

0:06:56.380,0:06:57.940
I haven't gone into it a bunch.

0:06:57.940,0:07:00.482
I'm waiting to hear back but[br]there's a bunch of bank receipts

0:07:00.482,0:07:03.947
and stuff in there as well[br]to show the [INAUDIBLE]--

0:07:03.947,0:07:04.780
this might be Shane.

0:07:04.780,0:07:05.730
Hold on one second.

0:07:05.730,0:07:06.280
Hey, this is Shane.

0:07:06.280,0:07:07.155
Let me call you back.

0:07:07.155,0:07:10.293
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

0:07:10.293,0:07:13.650


0:07:13.650,0:07:16.690
Around 20 minutes later,[br]the officer's superior,

0:07:16.690,0:07:20.250
a Highway Patrol Sergeant, is[br]recorded on his bodycam chatting

0:07:20.250,0:07:22.950
with the same DEA[br]agent who apologizes

0:07:22.950,0:07:25.620
for not being able to make it.

0:07:25.620,0:07:26.157
No issues.

0:07:26.157,0:07:27.490
It's too easy to do an adoption.

0:07:27.490,0:07:30.960
We contacted you so I think[br]everything's going to be OK.

0:07:30.960,0:07:33.760
And I'll text you the money[br]count after we get it.

0:07:33.760,0:07:35.620
It'll probably be[br]a couple hours.

0:07:35.620,0:07:38.190
Remember, there's[br]still no probable cause

0:07:38.190,0:07:39.850
to seize Stephen's money.

0:07:39.850,0:07:42.520
All the officers have is[br]a large amount of cash.

0:07:42.520,0:07:44.020
And cash is not a crime.

0:07:44.020,0:07:46.350
But the Sergeant[br]isn't giving up.

0:07:46.350,0:07:50.280
So why the distrust[br]for the banking system?

0:07:50.280,0:07:51.930
I just don't trust them.

0:07:51.930,0:07:53.680
Yeah?

0:07:53.680,0:07:54.430
It's my reasoning.

0:07:54.430,0:07:55.510
It's my personal thing.

0:07:55.510,0:07:57.940
Oh, I'm not trying to[br]convince you one or the other.

0:07:57.940,0:07:59.290
It's not usual.

0:07:59.290,0:08:01.230
After questioning[br]Stephen, the Sergeant

0:08:01.230,0:08:04.440
speaks privately with the[br]officer who pulled him over.

0:08:04.440,0:08:06.120
What are your thoughts, Chris?

0:08:06.120,0:08:13.290
I-- kind of leaning more[br]towards it's odd but--

0:08:13.290,0:08:15.100
It's odd but it's not[br]packaged like normal.

0:08:15.100,0:08:15.600
No.

0:08:15.600,0:08:17.350
And he's answering[br]the questions.

0:08:17.350,0:08:19.320
There's receipts here.

0:08:19.320,0:08:20.430
I would like to put--

0:08:20.430,0:08:23.790
I would like to put the[br]dog on the currency, man.

0:08:23.790,0:08:24.290
OK.

0:08:24.290,0:08:27.270
The two officers agree that[br]Stephen has been forthcoming

0:08:27.270,0:08:29.610
and has years worth of[br]bank receipts showing

0:08:29.610,0:08:32.470
that he has withdrawn his[br]savings from his bank accounts.

0:08:32.470,0:08:34.590
But the Sergeant orders[br]the junior officer

0:08:34.590,0:08:37.530
to put the dog on the currency.

0:08:37.530,0:08:40.799
The Sergeant put Stephen's[br]money in an open Ziploc bag

0:08:40.799,0:08:42.960
and throws the open[br]package to the ground

0:08:42.960,0:08:46.035
on the side of the road less[br]than 40 yards from Stephen's

0:08:46.035,0:08:46.535
car.

0:08:46.535,0:09:08.410


0:09:08.410,0:09:08.910
Nice.

0:09:08.910,0:09:19.290


0:09:19.290,0:09:21.453
Positive alert.

0:09:21.453,0:09:22.495
We'll go forward with it.

0:09:22.495,0:09:23.418
Huh?

0:09:23.418,0:09:24.460
We'll go forward with it.

0:09:24.460,0:09:26.070
OK.

0:09:26.070,0:09:28.110
This positive alert[br]appears to have

0:09:28.110,0:09:30.090
given the Sergeant[br]what he thinks he needs

0:09:30.090,0:09:32.140
to take Stephen's life savings.

0:09:32.140,0:09:35.220
Remember, both officers[br]have planned all along

0:09:35.220,0:09:37.030
to hand the money to the DEA.

0:09:37.030,0:09:39.610
They are looking for[br]a legal justification.

0:09:39.610,0:09:45.090
But numerous studies have shown[br]anywhere between 67% and 100%

0:09:45.090,0:09:47.970
of US currency has[br]trace amounts of drugs.

0:09:47.970,0:09:51.660
For that reason, a dog[br]alert to currency on its own

0:09:51.660,0:09:54.600
does not show the currency[br]was used in an illegal drug

0:09:54.600,0:09:56.910
transaction.

0:09:56.910,0:09:59.380
What we're going to do, I[br]believe they're drug proceeds.

0:09:59.380,0:10:00.930
Dog alerted to it.

0:10:00.930,0:10:01.860
Drug proceeds?

0:10:01.860,0:10:03.940
Yeah, it's very common, sir.

0:10:03.940,0:10:06.630
We get people that are[br]trafficking large quantities

0:10:06.630,0:10:10.780
of marijuana from Northern[br]California to all states East,

0:10:10.780,0:10:11.920
even from Reno.

0:10:11.920,0:10:13.715
Sir, I can tell you[br]right now, there's--

0:10:13.715,0:10:16.090
I'm going to tell you exactly[br]what's going to happen, OK?

0:10:16.090,0:10:17.570
We're going to seize it today.

0:10:17.570,0:10:20.155
But that doesn't mean we're[br]the final judgment on it.

0:10:20.155,0:10:21.530
It's going to go[br]through the DEA.

0:10:21.530,0:10:23.780
So the DEA will contact you.

0:10:23.780,0:10:29.982
And the DEA will provide you[br]with the means to fight it.

0:10:29.982,0:10:31.940
You're going to have to[br]provide your pay stubs.

0:10:31.940,0:10:33.610
You're going to have to[br]provide your other receipts

0:10:33.610,0:10:34.780
and stuff like that.

0:10:34.780,0:10:35.350
OK?

0:10:35.350,0:10:37.190
Stephen now has nothing.

0:10:37.190,0:10:41.020
He had to convince his brother[br]to wire him $1,000 to continue

0:10:41.020,0:10:43.540
his trip to see his daughters.

0:10:43.540,0:10:47.012
I just want to let you know, I[br]know you're just doing your job.

0:10:47.012,0:10:48.470
That money, I work[br]pretty hard for.

0:10:48.470,0:10:51.130


0:10:51.130,0:10:54.414
The money that I have in my[br]jacket is only a few dollars.

0:10:54.414,0:10:57.835
I have no money to pay[br]for my kids' meals,

0:10:57.835,0:11:02.170
[INAUDIBLE] my hotel, or even[br]get that car back to Texas.

0:11:02.170,0:11:07.780
So I know you're[br]just doing your job,

0:11:07.780,0:11:10.618
but I don't know what[br]to do [INAUDIBLE].

0:11:10.618,0:11:13.570
So I'm probably going to be[br]stuck here unless somebody

0:11:13.570,0:11:14.670
sends me some money.

0:11:14.670,0:11:19.418
I have no way of providing[br]for my children and stuff,

0:11:19.418,0:11:20.460
or getting back to Texas.

0:11:20.460,0:11:23.666
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

0:11:23.666,0:11:26.530
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

0:11:26.530,0:11:29.990
After nearly an hour and a[br]half on the side of a highway,

0:11:29.990,0:11:32.110
Stephen was given[br]a receipt for US

0:11:32.110,0:11:36.490
currency with a number[br]to call the DEA agent.

0:11:36.490,0:11:37.467
This is all I get here?

0:11:37.467,0:11:38.300
That's what you get.

0:11:38.300,0:11:38.870
Yes, sir.

0:11:38.870,0:11:41.225


0:11:41.225,0:11:42.850
You're going to get[br]noticed in the mail

0:11:42.850,0:11:45.200
as well at that address, OK?

0:11:45.200,0:11:50.710
I find it even[br]more so concerning

0:11:50.710,0:11:56.920
that if this could happen to[br]me as a combat veteran who

0:11:56.920,0:12:03.700
served overseas in[br]Iraq and Afghanistan,

0:12:03.700,0:12:05.810
this could happen to anybody.

0:12:05.810,0:12:10.190
After six months without[br]his nearly $87,000,

0:12:10.190,0:12:14.120
Stephen sued the DEA in[br]federal court to get it back.

0:12:14.120,0:12:16.600
Only then, after The[br]Institute for Justice

0:12:16.600,0:12:20.080
filed a lawsuit on his behalf,[br]and The Washington Post called

0:12:20.080,0:12:24.460
the agency for comment did they[br]agree to return Stephen's cash.

0:12:24.460,0:12:28.040
Stephen may have gotten back[br]his money but his case goes on.

0:12:28.040,0:12:29.980
Stephen and The[br]Institute for Justice

0:12:29.980,0:12:33.250
are also suing the Nevada[br]Highway Patrol in state court

0:12:33.250,0:12:36.940
to make sure that this[br]doesn't happen to anyone else.

0:12:36.940,0:12:40.880
Stephen's situation isn't unique[br]but he is one of the lucky ones.

0:12:40.880,0:12:42.500
He will get his money back.

0:12:42.500,0:12:45.730
Most victims of forfeiture don't[br]have a public interest law firm

0:12:45.730,0:12:47.510
like IJ to take their case.

0:12:47.510,0:12:50.410
And if they cannot afford an[br]attorney and cannot figure out

0:12:50.410,0:12:52.900
how to navigate convoluted[br]forfeiture processes

0:12:52.900,0:12:56.320
on their own, the government[br]walks away with their property

0:12:56.320,0:12:59.060
without ever having[br]to prove any crime.

0:12:59.060,0:13:01.610
This highway robbery must end.

0:13:01.610,0:13:04.000
It is time to abolish[br]civil forfeiture.

0:13:04.000,0:13:07.350
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

0:13:07.350,0:13:20.000