Bandit Gang Writ Large

Pittsburgh Residents Being Fined For Parking In Their Own Driveway

"It sounds absurd: tickets and warning letters for parking in your own driveway. But Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O’Connor says it’s happened on two city streets – one in the West End and one in Squirrel Hill. A pregnant mother of seven who lives across the street is trying to follow the rule, but can’t get out of the driver’s side of her van anymore. She has to crawl out of the passenger’s side when she parks the vehicle between her home and her neighbor’s. O’Connor says the tickets and warning letters are issued by the Bureau of Building Inspection. KDKA was unable to reach anyone from that office Wednesday night. He says one family ended up paying a $2,400 fine." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPittsburgh Residents Being Fined For Parking In Their Own Driveway

Woman sues officers for seizing $31,000 cash from real estate sale

"The suit said Dutton was traveling from Azle to Amarillo to visit a friend when Fry pulled her over for a suspected speeding violation. Fry claimed he smelled marijuana in the vehicle and asked to search it, but Dutton refused. Dutton told the officers that the money they found inside the vehicle, still wrapped in bank wrappings, was the proceeds from a recent real estate transaction. Later, Jolly arrived with a drug dog that alerted on Fry’s vehicle and the officers seized more than $31,000 in cash from the pickup, the suit said. In January, District Attorney Luke Inman’s office refused to accept charges in the case." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWoman sues officers for seizing $31,000 cash from real estate sale

Kentwood police chief pleads not guilty to stealing burglary proceeds

"Kentwood Police Chief Gregory Newton, arrested earlier this year in an evidence tampering case, pleaded not guilty Thursday in 21st Judicial District Court. Newton, 59, was arrested following a citizen’s complaint that $2,000 was missing from money recovered in a burglary in late 2012, State Police has reported. Newton and another officer drove to Pike County, Miss., to retrieve $11,000 that was confiscated from two juveniles accused of stealing the money, state police said, but only $9,000 was returned to the victim of the burglary. Newton remains free in lieu of $50,000 bail. If convicted, he faces up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000 on each count." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKentwood police chief pleads not guilty to stealing burglary proceeds

Neighborhood secession creeps into Scarborough property tax dispute

"More than a month after appeals began on 44 property tax assessments from 2012 at Higgins Beach and Pine Point, continued arguments consumed five hours Monday night. While hearings continue, appellant Don Petrin of River Sands Drive has hinted the appeal effort will spread beyond Town Hall and the courts, to a secession movement in the waterfront neighborhoods hardest hit by the revaluations. 'I’m not leading that effort, however I will, like many, support that effort,' Petrin said. 'Legal advice was solicited and received as to the steps involved, however I have not seen the required petition as yet.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNeighborhood secession creeps into Scarborough property tax dispute

Red Light Camera Case Goes To Illinois Supreme Court

"In the class action filing, the plaintiffs claimed all Chicago claimed all red light camera tickets between 2003 and 2006 were invalid because they were issued before state law authorized camera enforcement in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, Will, McHenry and St. Clair counties. The lawsuit also challenges every red light camera ticket issued after 2006 because Chicago never drafted a new ordinance after the state enacted its red light camera law in 2006. Chicago's 384 cameras posted at 191 separate intersections generated close to $70 million a year in revenue in 2012." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRed Light Camera Case Goes To Illinois Supreme Court

JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon negotiates fine amount with U.S.

"JPMorgan Chase chief Jamie Dimon held talks with the Department of Justice Thursday on a possible $11 billion deal to settle alleged violations, a source close to the matter said. Dimon and US Attorney General Eric Holder met in Washington amid intense negotiations to wrap up a slew of misbehavior allegations against JPMorgan, the biggest US bank by assets. Earlier this week reports said JPMorgan had offered $3 billion to the Justice Department to settle some or all of the charges it faces, against reported demands for $20 billion from the department. The talks focused on a number in the range of $11 billion, but the Justice Department has also reportedly insisted on the company admitting guilt." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon negotiates fine amount with U.S.

The FBAR Fundraiser and the Penalty Jackpot

"This reminds me of the treatment of Ms. Curran – an elderly widow – in Florida. You may remember her as the woman who paid – and may well have been coerced into a 21 million dollar FBAR penalty based on accounts she inherited from her late husband - I repeat accounts owned by her late husband. One blogger referred to this as a 'Penalty Jackpot for the IRS'. Yup, definitely a good return for a small amount of work. The facts in the Curran case are here. But, for those of you who think IRS Penalty Abuse is restricted to rich Homelanders you should take the time to read this submission to the Ways and Means Committee from this disabled 68 year old British born woman." Continue reading →

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End Civil Asset Forfeiture

"A recent New Yorker article has awakened many Americans to the scourge of civil asset forfeiture in which police can seize property without charging anyone with a crime and pocket the proceeds. Many police organizations call the proceeds of civil asset forfeiture a vital source of funding. Scott Bullock, senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, describes the practice and the best avenues for reform." Continue reading →

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IRS Seizes Small Store’s Bank Account. It’s Asset Forfeiture. It’s Legal.

"This man runs a small store. His insurance company insures against theft for only $10,000 per robbery. So, his daughter waited until there was $9,000. Then she deposited the money in the bank. An IRS agent seized the money. She charged 'structuring.' The IRS requires you to report cash deposits in excess of $10,000. It also prohibits 'structuring' — deposits just under $10,000. 'How will I pay my workers?' he said. 'I don’t care,' she replied. She handed him her card. The Internet may give the story enough coverage to convince the IRS agent’s superior that the bad publicity isn’t worth $35,000. Otherwise, this man is out of business." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIRS Seizes Small Store’s Bank Account. It’s Asset Forfeiture. It’s Legal.

Feds Steal $35K From Small Grocer’s Bank Account Despite ‘No Violations’

"Schott's Market, in Fraser, Michigan, was robbed in January of this year. Unfortunately for Terry Dehko and his daughter, Sandy, who own the place, the thieves are government agents in the emply of the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS doesn't even allege that the Dehkos committed a crime to justify cleaning out their bank account using civil asset forfeiture—they even sent the Dehknos a letter clarifying that 'no violations [of banking laws] were identified.' So, why the mugging? The feds just don't like the way the grocers have been depositing money in their bank account. Really." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds Steal $35K From Small Grocer’s Bank Account Despite ‘No Violations’