The FBI Seized Heirlooms, Coins, and Cash From Hundreds of Safe Deposit Boxes in Beverly Hills, Despite Knowing 'Some' Belonged to 'Honest Citizens'

excalibur

Diamond Member
Mar 19, 2015
17,587
33,208
2,290
And Congress refuses to act. Blackmailed by the FBI?



Dagny discovered that the FBI had seized the contents of her safe deposit box—about $100,000 in gold and silver coins, some family heirlooms like a diamond necklace inherited from her late grandmother, and an engagement ring she'd promised to pass down to her daughter—almost by accident.

She'd been asked by a friend to recommend a convenient and secure location for keeping some valuables. Dagny searched Yelp to find the phone number for U.S. Private Vaults, a Beverly Hills facility where she'd rented a safe deposit box since 2017. That's when she saw the bad news.

"Permanently closed."

After a brief moment of panic, some phone calls, and several days, Dagny and her husband Howard (pseudonyms used at their request to maintain privacy during ongoing legal proceedings) figured out what happened. On March 22, the FBI had raided U.S. Private Vaults. The federal agents were armed with a warrant allowing them to seize property belonging to the company as part of a criminal investigation—and even though the warrant explicitly exempted the safe deposit boxes in the company's vaults, they were taken too. More than 800 were seized.

Howard tells Reason there was no attempt made by the FBI to contact him, his wife, or their heirs—despite the fact that contact information was taped to the top of their box. Six weeks later, the couple is still waiting for their property to be returned. (Both individuals are supporters of Reason Foundation, the nonprofit that publishes this website.)

The FBI and federal prosecutors have "no authority to continue holding the possessions of some 800 bystanders who are not alleged to have been involved in whatever USPV may have done wrong," Benjamin Gluck, a California attorney who is representing several of the people caught up in the FBI's raid of U.S. Private Vaults, tells Reason.

Legal efforts to force the FBI to return the items seized during the March 22 raid have so far been unsuccessful, but at least five lawsuits are pending in federal court.

A federal grand jury indicted U.S. Private Vaults (USPV) on counts of conspiracy to distribute drugs, launder money, and avoid mandatory deposit reporting requirements.

In legal filings, federal prosecutors have admitted that "some" of the company's customers were "honest citizens," but contend that "the majority of the box-holders are criminals who used USPV's anonymity to hide their ill-gotten wealth."

Whatever the original motivation for the raid, the FBI's seizure of hundreds of safe deposit boxes held by U.S. Private Vaults raises serious Fourth and Fifth Amendment issues. In order to have the contents of their boxes returned, federal authorities are asking owners to come forward, identify themselves, and describe their possessions. Some owners may be unwilling to do that—U.S. Private Vaults allowed anonymous rentals of safe-deposit boxes—while others may rightfully object to being subjected to the scrutiny of federal law enforcement when they have done nothing wrong.

"The constitution does not abide guilt by association," argues Robert Frommer, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, a libertarian law firm, in an op-ed published by The Orange County Register.

...


 
IDK. FBI probably has to do its due diligence first, but independent of that, WTF would be going through somebody's mind to rent a private safe deposit box instead of using one at an actual safe bank. Might as well toss in in a storage unit.
 
And in Miami, Florida the so-called "law enforcement" randomly breaks into peoples homes, riffles through their belongings, steals whatever they want, and leaves.

My sister and my two toddler nephews had this happen to them. The corrupt pigs banged on her front door, when she opened it, they rushed her at gun point and told her to stand on the other side of the living room with the kids.
They ransacked her house, took ALL of the money she had in her purse, she had an emergency stash of cash in the house........I think she said it was $2,000........they stole that, they took some of her jewelry and a few other things, told her if she reported any of what happened, they'd come back and shoot all of them dead.

My sister said people who have been there for decades, say this is what they do. They don't enforce the laws, they break the laws. They aren't the police, they are the mafia.

WHY anybody lives there is beyond me!!
 
That seriously sucks. Sounds like more of the non-judicial confiscation problem, where you basically have to prove your property was not involved or the result of a crime, even if you aren't charged with a crime, costing you a lot of time, money and legal bills to get (if you ever do) your own property and property rights respected. So much for innocent until proven guilty. Leans heavily on possession 9/10 of the law and if law enforcement possesses it, you are screwed. If you get your property back, you still are stuck for your legal bills and expenses to prove your innocence, even though never charged. It ain't right.
 
K. FBI probably has to do its due diligence first, but independent of that, WTF would be going through somebody's mind to rent a private safe deposit box instead of using one at an actual safe bank. Might as well toss in in a storage unit.

To hide illicit funds, stolen merchandise, ill gotten gains, hide money to avoid tax accountability. There is no legitimate reason for using private safe deposit.

Good on the FBI for shutting down this criminal enterprise.
No sympathy here.
 
I guess I’m trying to figure out here why people don’t come forward and claim their stuff? It’s not like the FBI is arguing they get to keep it.
 
IDK. FBI probably has to do its due diligence first, but independent of that, WTF would be going through somebody's mind to rent a private safe deposit box instead of using one at an actual safe bank. Might as well toss in in a storage unit.

World's biggest banks 'allowed criminals to launder dirty money', leaked documents allege

Cool but that has nothing to do with safe deposit boxes since the words "safe" "deposit" or "box" appear nowhere in that article.
 
Had a certain inheritance in a bank. Cousin with power of attorney and a gambling problem took it. $185K 2 3 years ago. FBI says they investigate "theft of inheritance" over $100K Told me to get a lawyer.
 
And Congress refuses to act. Blackmailed by the FBI?


Dagny discovered that the FBI had seized the contents of her safe deposit box—about $100,000 in gold and silver coins, some family heirlooms like a diamond necklace inherited from her late grandmother, and an engagement ring she'd promised to pass down to her daughter—almost by accident.
She'd been asked by a friend to recommend a convenient and secure location for keeping some valuables. Dagny searched Yelp to find the phone number for U.S. Private Vaults, a Beverly Hills facility where she'd rented a safe deposit box since 2017. That's when she saw the bad news.
"Permanently closed."
After a brief moment of panic, some phone calls, and several days, Dagny and her husband Howard (pseudonyms used at their request to maintain privacy during ongoing legal proceedings) figured out what happened. On March 22, the FBI had raided U.S. Private Vaults. The federal agents were armed with a warrant allowing them to seize property belonging to the company as part of a criminal investigation—and even though the warrant explicitly exempted the safe deposit boxes in the company's vaults, they were taken too. More than 800 were seized.
Howard tells Reason there was no attempt made by the FBI to contact him, his wife, or their heirs—despite the fact that contact information was taped to the top of their box. Six weeks later, the couple is still waiting for their property to be returned. (Both individuals are supporters of Reason Foundation, the nonprofit that publishes this website.)
The FBI and federal prosecutors have "no authority to continue holding the possessions of some 800 bystanders who are not alleged to have been involved in whatever USPV may have done wrong," Benjamin Gluck, a California attorney who is representing several of the people caught up in the FBI's raid of U.S. Private Vaults, tells Reason.
Legal efforts to force the FBI to return the items seized during the March 22 raid have so far been unsuccessful, but at least five lawsuits are pending in federal court.
A federal grand jury indicted U.S. Private Vaults (USPV) on counts of conspiracy to distribute drugs, launder money, and avoid mandatory deposit reporting requirements.
In legal filings, federal prosecutors have admitted that "some" of the company's customers were "honest citizens," but contend that "the majority of the box-holders are criminals who used USPV's anonymity to hide their ill-gotten wealth."
Whatever the original motivation for the raid, the FBI's seizure of hundreds of safe deposit boxes held by U.S. Private Vaults raises serious Fourth and Fifth Amendment issues. In order to have the contents of their boxes returned, federal authorities are asking owners to come forward, identify themselves, and describe their possessions. Some owners may be unwilling to do that—U.S. Private Vaults allowed anonymous rentals of safe-deposit boxes—while others may rightfully object to being subjected to the scrutiny of federal law enforcement when they have done nothing wrong.
"The constitution does not abide guilt by association," argues Robert Frommer, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, a libertarian law firm, in an op-ed published by The Orange County Register.
...


What EXACTLY do you want Congress to do?
Four parties. FBI, US ATTY, Federal judge, claimant. FBI and US ATTY tell judge the stuff is material to an investigation. Unless they're standing there with their (see that, all three right th..) fingers crossed wearing flaming BVDs no judge will order the property released.
Does LE lie? Do prosecutors lie?
Of course they do. that's why they use phrases like "material..." accuses no one of anything but let's them do as they please.

So, what do you want Congress to do?
 
IDK. FBI probably has to do its due diligence first, but independent of that, WTF would be going through somebody's mind to rent a private safe deposit box instead of using one at an actual safe bank. Might as well toss in in a storage unit.

World's biggest banks 'allowed criminals to launder dirty money', leaked documents allege

Cool but that has nothing to do with safe deposit boxes since the words "safe" "deposit" or "box" appear nowhere in that article.

Banks are no more legit than a private business.
 
K. FBI probably has to do its due diligence first, but independent of that, WTF would be going through somebody's mind to rent a private safe deposit box instead of using one at an actual safe bank. Might as well toss in in a storage unit.

To hide illicit funds, stolen merchandise, ill gotten gains, hide money to avoid tax accountability. There is no legitimate reason for using private safe deposit.

Good on the FBI for shutting down this criminal enterprise.
No sympathy here.


You stupid fucking commie, did you not read in the OP that the deposit boxes were NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANT??????????? The FBI violated the court order, they should be charged with burglary and theft.

.
 
IDK. FBI probably has to do its due diligence first, but independent of that, WTF would be going through somebody's mind to rent a private safe deposit box instead of using one at an actual safe bank. Might as well toss in in a storage unit.

World's biggest banks 'allowed criminals to launder dirty money', leaked documents allege

Cool but that has nothing to do with safe deposit boxes since the words "safe" "deposit" or "box" appear nowhere in that article.

From the OP:
and even though the warrant explicitly exempted the safe deposit boxes in the company's vaults, they were taken too. More than 800 were seized.
You commies are pathetic.

.
 
K. FBI probably has to do its due diligence first, but independent of that, WTF would be going through somebody's mind to rent a private safe deposit box instead of using one at an actual safe bank. Might as well toss in in a storage unit.

To hide illicit funds, stolen merchandise, ill gotten gains, hide money to avoid tax accountability. There is no legitimate reason for using private safe deposit.

Good on the FBI for shutting down this criminal enterprise.
No sympathy here.


You stupid fucking commie, did you not read in the OP that the deposit boxes were NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANT??????????? The FBI violated the court order, they should be charged with burglary and theft.

.

Sorry the FBI is on to you. Must suck to have years of crime profits go down the drain.
 
IDK. FBI probably has to do its due diligence first, but independent of that, WTF would be going through somebody's mind to rent a private safe deposit box instead of using one at an actual safe bank. Might as well toss in in a storage unit.

World's biggest banks 'allowed criminals to launder dirty money', leaked documents allege

Cool but that has nothing to do with safe deposit boxes since the words "safe" "deposit" or "box" appear nowhere in that article.

From the OP:
and even though the warrant explicitly exempted the safe deposit boxes in the company's vaults, they were taken too. More than 800 were seized.
You commies are pathetic.

.

Conservatives are the ones who created the all-powerful police state making sure none of them black and brown people got away with anything.
 
IDK. FBI probably has to do its due diligence first, but independent of that, WTF would be going through somebody's mind to rent a private safe deposit box instead of using one at an actual safe bank. Might as well toss in in a storage unit.

World's biggest banks 'allowed criminals to launder dirty money', leaked documents allege

Cool but that has nothing to do with safe deposit boxes since the words "safe" "deposit" or "box" appear nowhere in that article.

From the OP:
and even though the warrant explicitly exempted the safe deposit boxes in the company's vaults, they were taken too. More than 800 were seized.
You commies are pathetic.

.

Conservatives are the ones who created the all-powerful police state making sure none of them black and brown people got away with anything.


Why don't you kill yourself, you obviously can't fucking read. I can't imagine how hard life is for a retard like you.

.
 
IDK. FBI probably has to do its due diligence first, but independent of that, WTF would be going through somebody's mind to rent a private safe deposit box instead of using one at an actual safe bank. Might as well toss in in a storage unit.

World's biggest banks 'allowed criminals to launder dirty money', leaked documents allege

Cool but that has nothing to do with safe deposit boxes since the words "safe" "deposit" or "box" appear nowhere in that article.

From the OP:
and even though the warrant explicitly exempted the safe deposit boxes in the company's vaults, they were taken too. More than 800 were seized.
You commies are pathetic.

.

Conservatives are the ones who created the all-powerful police state making sure none of them black and brown people got away with anything.


Why don't you kill yourself, you obviously can't fucking read. I can't imagine how hard life is for a retard like you.

.

Boo hoo your last gray hair fell out today. In the mean time, the Conservatives are the ones who invented the argument that the Constitution doesn't protect people from the police doing whatever the hell they want. It just protects them from having it used against you in court. Say goodbye to all your gold coins. They are coming for your beanie babies "inflation hedge"
 

Forum List

Back
Top