Billy Binion: This is Joseph Ruiz. In 2021, the FBI seized his life savings—$57,000—from his safe deposit box in LA. He could no longer afford his medical treatments & he struggled to buy food. The kicker: He wasn't suspected of a crime. There are many other victims in this saga. A thread.

This is Joseph Ruiz. In 2021, the FBI seized his life savings—$57,000—from his safe deposit box in LA. He could no longer afford his medical treatments & he struggled to buy food. The kicker: He wasn't suspected of a crime. There are many other victims in this saga. A thread.

In early 2021, the FBI raided US Private Vaults, a business in LA that offered a place to store valuables. The gov't thought USPV might be engaged in illegal activity. But they were specifically told *not* to seize innocent customers' safe deposit boxes. They did anyway. /2

This is Don Mellein. To ensure he'd be secure in retirement, he invested in gold coins worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The FBI seized them all. When he fought to get them back, the FBI "lost" 63 of them—worth over $100,000. He was never suspected of a crime. /3

This is Paul & Jennifer Snitko. In their box, they kept very personal belongings: their kid's baptismal certificate, their marriage certificate & more. The FBI took it all—as if the feds had any reason to seize a...baptismal certificate. They were never suspected of a crime. /4

In total, the FBI took about *$86 million* in their raid on U.S. Private Vaults—after the warrant explicitly told them not to search & seize innocent people's boxes. This is life-ruining stuff. Aaaaand it gets worse. /5 reason.com/2023/12/06/t...

FBI seized $86 million from people not suspected of any crime. A federal court will decide if that's...reason.com A federal appeals court will be asked Thursday whether the FBI's seizure of the contents of nearly 1,400 safe deposit boxes violated the Fourth Amendment.

In depositions, FBI agents admitted that they planned to seize cash & valuables from innocent people's boxes. Naturally, they omitted that from the warrant application. Then last year, a federal court ruled that the FBI's actions were legal. OK. /6 reason.com/2023/12/06/t...

FBI seized $86 million from people not suspected of any crime. A federal court will decide if that's...reason.com A federal appeals court will be asked Thursday whether the FBI's seizure of the contents of nearly 1,400 safe deposit boxes violated the Fourth Amendment.

Let's review: 1) The FBI misled a judge to get a warrant. 2) Then they violated the terms of that warrant by stealing millions in assets from innocent people. 3) And then they got a pass. Legalized larceny. /7 reason.com/2023/12/06/t...

FBI seized $86 million from people not suspected of any crime. A federal court will decide if that's...reason.com A federal appeals court will be asked Thursday whether the FBI's seizure of the contents of nearly 1,400 safe deposit boxes violated the Fourth Amendment.

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