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How A Small, Family-Owned Company Taught Cops Around America To Seize Millions In Cash


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A controversial police tactic that lets cops seize large amounts of suspicious cash has been aided by a family-owned company that won millions in federal contracts, Robert O'Harrow and Michael Sallah write in The Washington Post.

 

That company, Desert Snow, has trained cops around the US on the art of roadside asset forfeiture, which allows police to take cash or other assets they believe have

 

been illegally obtained. Cops can take these assets from people even if they're never convicted of or even charged with a crime, and people must go to court to get their

 

stuff back.

In five years, cops trained by Desert Snow seized $427 million from motorists stopped on America's highways, the Post found.

 

The company, which retired California Highway Patrol veteran Joe David started in his garage in 1989, eventually won federal contracts worth $2.5 million from the

Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and other agencies, according to the Post. David's wife and kids still work there, and the contractor employs about 75 instructors and administrators (though it's unclear how many, if any of these instructors work there full-time).

Federal government agencies like the Department of Transportation also have extensive training for cops on how to seize assets and drugs from vehicles, but Desert Snow appears to be the go-to private contractor to train cops in asset forfeiture. Here's how that process works, according to The Post:


Read more:  http://www.businessinsider.com/how-desert-snow-trained-americas-cops-2014-10#ixzz3PfPBT8lC

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/highway-seizure-in-iowa-fuels-debate-about-asset-forfeiture-laws/2014/11/10/10f725fc-5ec3-11e4-8b9e-2ccdac31a031_story.html

 

"The two men in the rented red Nissan Altima were poker players traveling through Iowa on their way to Las Vegas. The police were state troopers on the hunt for criminals, contraband and cash.

They intersected last year on a rural stretch of Interstate 80, in a seemingly routine traffic stop that would soon raise new questions about laws that allow police to take money and property from people not charged with crimes.

By the time the encounter was over, the gamblers had been detained for more than two hours. Their car was searched without a warrant. And their cellphones, a computer and $100,020 of their gambling “bankroll” were seized under state civil asset-forfeiture laws. The troopers allowed them to leave, without their money, after issuing a traffic warning and a citation for possession of marijuana paraphernalia that carried a $65 fine, court records show."

 

Davis said the men felt as though they were being “stalked” by the police. If allowed to proceed, the lawsuit could illuminate the widespread but little-known police practice known as “highway interdiction.” The suit names Desert Snow, the Oklahoma-based training firm, and its founder, Joe David, court records show. It also names the two Iowa State Patrol troopers who participated in the traffic stop and were trained by Desert Snow.

 

Desert Snow’s lead instructor, David Frye, said the lawsuit has no merit and contains “outrageous” and “inaccurate” accusations.

“The evidence will show that the individuals who had their money seized were involved in drug trafficking and that the vacuum sealed packages of cash they had in their possession were tied to the sale of narcotics,” Frye said in a statement to The Washington Post. “Desert Snow is a top-notch training program which will continue to teach officers how to legally and professionally identify and apprehend persons involved in criminal activity.”

 

 

My friend and I discussed this story last night which just happens to be right on topic.

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http://www.highwaydruginterdiction.com/10indicators.htm

 

 

10 Common Indicators for Highway Drug Interdiction

by Andrew Hawkes, Author of "Secrets of Successful Highway Drug Interdiction"


In today’s drug smuggling world, highway drug traffickers are constantly attempting to think of new an innovative ways to conceal their contraband from law enforcement. Little do they realize that the same methods they come up with have been being used for decades by their predecessors. Through thousands of narcotic interdiction arrests by skilled interdiction officers all over the country, we have learned many of these traits and characteristics. Below, I have outlined ten popular techniques that highway drug traffickers attempt to use in hopes that they will successfully get their dope to their destination. By familiarizing yourself with some of these tips, you too can increase your interdiction success. Keep in mind you must always have probable cause to stop a vehicle.

1. MASKING ODORS. We have all heard of highway drug smugglers attempting to use large amounts of air fresheners in their vehicles. Not only can you look at for the famous “Christmas Tree” air fresheners hanging from the rear view mirror and other places in the vehicle, but you can also be aware of several other tactics that you may not have picked up on in the past. For example, do you notice several bottles of cologne or perfume in the car, and have they recently been sprayed prior or during your traffic stop of the vehicle? Is there a large bag of scented pipe tobacco, opened, laying in the vehicle but you notice the driver is smoking a cigarette? Or maybe you find it odd that as soon as you stop the car, the driver lights up a cigarette immediately, filling the car with smoke, but has no desire to roll down the windows? These are all examples of masking the odor on the surface of the stop. Masking odors placed directly onto packages of contraband can include animal urine, cayenne pepper, mustard, animal blood, oil and just about anything they feel may frighten off a drug canine or further mask the odor of contraband.

2. LAW ENFORCEMENT STICKERS AND SLOGANS. Most officers know that the “State troopers association” stickers you see on vehicle are mailed to random people and solicit money that often are not associated with any law enforcement entity. Most experienced officer’s will also come to determine that most cars they stop with these stickers do not belong to anyone in law enforcement. When you stop or see vehicle traveling across many states with an abundance of these stickers, be aware that they will often put these stickers all over their vehicles, thinking that we as officer’s will think they are “Officer Friendly”. 

3. RELIGIOUS PARAPHERNALIA The same goes for religious bumper stickers, symbols and bibles strategically placed throughout the vehicle. I once recovered 80 pounds of vacuum-sealed marijuana placed under the carpet of the vehicle. The driver was traveling down the interstate with the biggest bible I have ever seen, lying open on the front dashboard of his rental car. 

4. RENTAL CAR AGREEMENTS/PAPERWORK. It has been known for years that drug smugglers like to rent vehicles to transport drugs. There are many reasons for this. Often the simple fact is that there personal cars are old and not as dependable as a new rental car. Other reasons include avoiding seizure of their personal vehicles in the event they are caught and arrested. Whatever the reason, the rental agreement paper work can offer several indicators to the investigating officer that could end up instrumental in establishing reasonable suspicion. Questions to ask yourself when inspecting this paperwork are:

a. Is the driver of the car listed on the rental agreement?
b. If not, is the person listed on the rental agreement even in the vehicle?
c. Can the driver give you specific details as to who is on the rental agreement and his relationship to this person?
d. Does the name listed on the rental agreement show to have a criminal history?
e. What city and state was the rental car rented in and what distance is that from where you have the vehicle stopped?
f. What day and time was the rental car rented and how much time has lapsed since then?
g. What was the mileage listed when the car was rented and how far has it traveled since then? Is the mileage traveled consistent with the occupants’ story as to where they have traveled?

Another great tool to use with rental cars can be to contact the rental agency, identify yourself and explain to them that you have one of their vehicle pulled over, several states away from where it was rented, explain that the renter of the car is not in the vehicle and possible that the people in the vehicle may not even know the person that rented the car. Often times they will ask you to impound the car for them so they can pick it up. This gives you, the officer the opportunity to inventory the contents of the vehicle, thus discovering any contraband.

5. SPECIFIC TOOLS USED TO ACCESS WHERE THE DOPE IS HIDDEN. Many dope smugglers will go to great lengths to conceal their contraband. What is so funny to the experienced interdiction officer is that they leave obvious tools needed to retrieve the contraband in the silliest of places. I can’t recall the last time I stopped an honest citizen carrying a brand new floor jack and a special tire tool in the front seat of a new Lincoln town car. I can however, recall stopping a drug smuggler, with those tools on the front seat of a new Lincoln that had 160 pounds of marijuana concealed in all four tires of the vehicle! Look for out of place items that don’t fit the rest of the surroundings.

6. MORE THAN ONE CELL PHONE. Often a drug smuggler will carry multiple cell phones, that all seem to be ringing at once. The smuggler may have a personal cell phone, as well as a cell phone given to him from the origin of the load, a cell phone from the contact near the destination and numerous other middlemen involved in the drug transaction so that they can all keep tabs on the location. Look for this as a possible indicator and question the suspect in detail as to why he has all these phones and use their answers to build reasonable suspicion.

7. CONFLICTING STORIES. A popular subject to that has been taught in interdiction is the “conflicting stories” that passengers give as to the purpose and destination of their interstate travel. Developing these conflicting stories is paramount in your investigation. By getting the suspect’s to give your intricate details that totally contradict each other not only is an indicator, but a great tool in reasonable suspicion.

8. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY GETS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. This is another post stop indicator that can be a sign of dope trafficking. In this case, the subject is trying to distance himself from something he wants to hide from you. Keep in mind, this indicator can be a sign of something less sinister than drug trafficking, e.g. the subject might be have a weapon in the car, an open beer, etc.. Either way, there is something in the car he is hiding. Just as a side note, if you ask the subject if you can search the car, and he consents but tries to draw you away from where he doesn’t want you to look, then you know the contraband is in a different location than the one they want you to look in. Dead giveaway indicator.

9. CARS THAT DRIVE UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT – here is a very easy pre-stop indicator you can start using immediately. Drug traffickers are naturally paranoid and their paranoia will make them do stupid things like drive 10 – 15 miles under the speed limit. drug haulers generally will stay in the “slow lane” as well.

10. OLDER MODEL CARS THAT ARE IN UNUSUALLY GOOD CONDITION. Often older cars will be used to transport drug loads, however, what sets them apart is that they have been very well maintained mechanically, often have new tires on them and have been washed and cleaned to help blend in with the average citizen’s vehicle. 

Keep in mind as you go through this list, an indicator by itself is not enough to be a sign of drug trafficking. However, by observing multiple indicators then you can greatly increase your chances of finding the mother load. I talk more about indicators and reasonable suspicion in my book, Secrets of Successful Highway Drug Interdiction. As always, stay safe and happy hunting. 

 

Stay Safe,

sig.jpg

Andrew G. Hawkes, B.A.A.S.

Secrets of Successful Highway Drug Interdiction

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/highway-seizure-in-iowa-fuels-debate-about-asset-forfeiture-laws/2014/11/10/10f725fc-5ec3-11e4-8b9e-2ccdac31a031_story.html

 

"The two men in the rented red Nissan Altima were poker players traveling through Iowa on their way to Las Vegas. The police were state troopers on the hunt for criminals, contraband and cash.

They intersected last year on a rural stretch of Interstate 80, in a seemingly routine traffic stop that would soon raise new questions about laws that allow police to take money and property from people not charged with crimes.

By the time the encounter was over, the gamblers had been detained for more than two hours. Their car was searched without a warrant. And their cellphones, a computer and $100,020 of their gambling “bankroll” were seized under state civil asset-forfeiture laws. The troopers allowed them to leave, without their money, after issuing a traffic warning and a citation for possession of marijuana paraphernalia that carried a $65 fine, court records show."

 

Davis said the men felt as though they were being “stalked” by the police. If allowed to proceed, the lawsuit could illuminate the widespread but little-known police practice known as “highway interdiction.” The suit names Desert Snow, the Oklahoma-based training firm, and its founder, Joe David, court records show. It also names the two Iowa State Patrol troopers who participated in the traffic stop and were trained by Desert Snow.

 

Desert Snow’s lead instructor, David Frye, said the lawsuit has no merit and contains “outrageous” and “inaccurate” accusations.

“The evidence will show that the individuals who had their money seized were involved in drug trafficking and that the vacuum sealed packages of cash they had in their possession were tied to the sale of narcotics,” Frye said in a statement to The Washington Post. “Desert Snow is a top-notch training program which will continue to teach officers how to legally and professionally identify and apprehend persons involved in criminal activity.”

 

 

My friend and I discussed this story last night which just happens to be right on topic.

$100,000 in cash and they were driving to Vegas from at least Illinois?

 

Fear of flying I'm sure.

 

I mean, I'm all for ending this practice but it sure sounds like that case was a textbook canna dealer losing that round.

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$100,000 in cash and they were driving to Vegas from at least Illinois?

 

Fear of flying I'm sure.

 

I mean, I'm all for ending this practice but it sure sounds like that case was a textbook canna dealer losing that round.

LEO found no evidence of a crime and returned 90% of the money.

 

"Months later, an attorney for the men obtained a video of the stop. It showed that the motorists were detained for a violation they did not commit — a failure to signal during a lane change — and authorities were compelled to return 90 percent of the money." - was in the article, my apologies for not posting.

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$100,000 in cash and they were driving to Vegas from at least Illinois?

 

Fear of flying I'm sure.

 

I mean, I'm all for ending this practice but it sure sounds like that case was a textbook canna dealer losing that round.

they were driving probably to skip facing the same stupid inquiry from the tsa while flying.

feds or locals, both will take your money and take you to jail and ask why you had so much cash.

 

the real question is why not put it in a good bank account? probably there isnt an easy bank to deal with. if these guys were card playing pros, they probably tried the bank route. you ever try getting 100k in cash from a bank? :P

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they were driving probably to skip facing the same stupid inquiry from the tsa while flying.

feds or locals, both will take your money and take you to jail and ask why you had so much cash.

 

the real question is why not put it in a good bank account? probably there isnt an easy bank to deal with. if these guys were card playing pros, they probably tried the bank route. you ever try getting 100k in cash from a bank? :P

 

Yes you are right

You are never going to get that much $$ from a Bank it would take at lest 10 + days

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