A couple of U.S. citizens are suing the government and FBI for what they’re calling “total abuse of their constitutional rights.” Why? The FBI raided a safety deposit box business, U.S. Private Vaults, which they suspected of fraudulent activity and money laundering.
However, during the raid, they seized around $86 million in cash, gold bars, Rolex watches, Cartier bracelets, and several other valuables. These items cost a fortune and aren’t owned by the business but by individuals who trusted them with the safety of their possessions.
When the FBI raided the Beverly Hills business in March 2021, they seized over 1,400 safe deposit boxes regardless of their owners. They had suspected the business for a long time and stormed the place when a judge granted a search warrant.
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According to court documents, the FBI believes they let ‘unsavory characters store criminal proceeds’ using their private vaults. Therefore, they had to do a thorough sweep. However, the FBI did not accuse the depositors of any crimes or wrongdoings. So, they’re demanding to have their valuables back.
For these people, the FBI seized their life savings and most valuable items and isn’t ready to release them. This pushed them to file a lawsuit against the government agency to regain their assets.
Furthermore, they believe the government violated their Fourth and Fifth Amendment protections by seizing their properties. However, the government is within its rights to take individual property linked to a crime without charging the owner.
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Moreover, U.S. Private Vaults eventually pleaded guilty to money laundering. This makes the situation much more complex, but the affected citizens are not backing down. A court held a hearing for the affected parties after they filed the lawsuit. After the hearing, the plaintiffs had much to say to media outlets.
“I felt misled, I felt angry, I’m still angry. They didn’t tell us why they took our money, they haven’t told us why as of yet,” box renter Linda Martin told Fox News.
Another plaintiff, Travis May, said, “It’s been just a long journey to get accountability for this from the government.” In addition, he said, “Obviously, the journey is not over. But today felt very good to see that those concerns are being taken seriously.”
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Their attorney, Rob Johnson, from the Institute for Justice, agrees. He said, “‘I think the public sees this and recognizes that this is just a total abuse of people’s constitutional rights.”
Victor Rodgers, the government’s representative, argued that the FBI tried to give the customers back their properties. He claimed they posted a notice asking the owners to come and claim their valuables. All efforts to get a statement from the FBI themselves have proven futile. They have declined to comment on several occasions.
Sources claim the agency believes in forfeiture and compensating victims, so the public expects them to serve justice.
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