Poker pros report large sums of cash getting seized by Customs at US airports

Poker pros including Ari Engel and Daniel Negreanu have taken to Twitter to report fears that travelling with huge sums of cash could be a serious problem after recent reports that police and DEA officers have been confiscating money…

Join the VIP-Grinders Telegram & Discord Channel and get passwords for exclusive high-value freerollsJoin the VIP-Grinders Telegram & Discord Channel and get passwords for exclusive high-value freerolls

Ppoker pros afraid of travelling with lots of cash

The story shared in the tweet by WPT Director Matt Savage saw a 25-year-old woman from Chicago  have more than $106k in cash confiscated while on a layover at Dallas Love Field Airport.

A sniffer dog uncovered the cash in two large bubble envelopes and – under “civil asset forfeiture” laws –  police confiscated the money. The woman, however, was not charged and allowed to leave. That’s where the scary part of civil forfeiture comes in.

It is quite common for poker players in the US to travel with large sums of cash. However, if you are stopped by police and they decide to take your money, there is little you can do except take the legal route to have it returned.

As Ari Engel explained: “It’s not illegal but police can seize your money with no proof of wrongdoing just a suspicion…then you need to prove that the money is ‘kosher’. Big hastle (sic) and could be expensive.”

Poker pros report large sums of cash getting seized by customs at US airports

The discussion soon had poker players sharing their near misses and even horror stories when dealing with the authorities while carrying wads of cash.

Daniel Negreanu, no stranger to wielding bricks of cash on High Stakes Poker, shared his run in with the law…

Poker pros report large sums of cash getting seized by customs at US airports

Daniel Negreanu got checked by the police at the airport

Daniel added: “I think it was like $70k. It’s not illegal. I filled out the paperwork and declared every penny but was treated like a criminal nonetheless.”

David “Viffer” Peat was another well-known pro who was subject to the arbitrary swoops by DEA and police.

Poker pros report large sums of cash getting seized by customs at US airports

“They yanked me off a flight out of Detroit, took 7k and my Rolex, took me 90 days to get back. No receipt no charges no nothing, Lawyer said if I hadn’t responded in 30-60 days they auto forfeit it.”

A huge case that made it all the way to the supreme court involved professional gamblers and poker players Gina Fiore and Keith Gipson, who had $97,000 taken from them as they landed in Atlanta from San Juan.

Despite explaining they were professional gamblers, and showing IDs and receipts from hotels and casinos, DEA agents took their cash and as reported: “denied their request … for taxi fare upon their arrival” at their final destination.

Although the money was later returned – initially offered with the proviso that Fiore wouldn’t raise a legal claim – Fiore later sued the main DEA agent involved in the seizure.

Fiore (pictured below next to Jennifer Tilly) explained at the time: “Eventually they said we could get our money back if we took a lie detector test. Fuck them, they were trying to freeroll us. We said no.”

Poker pros report large sums of cash getting seized by customs at US airports

Further poker pros warning fellow players

She added: “The reason we sued after we got our funds back was to prove a point, to put another case on the record that you can’t just take someone’s money, period. It’s already legal to carry any amount you want within the US, but people still get freerolled all the time by DEA agents, cops, etc.”

Naturally, fighting drug crime and money laundering is a laudable cause. But with the seized money being spent on further law enforcement it has led to many cases where the authorities have been accused of deliberately targeting innocent people.

The safe answer for poker players? Try not to carry sums of cash is the obvious one. Having proof of your profession and winnings will help, and a good lawyer on speed dial too!

$600 Bonus OR
$100 in Free Rewards
60% RB | VG Freeroll
New Customers Only | 18+ | T&C Apply
Upon making your first deposit on GGpoker using bonus code ´VIPGRINDERS`, you can choose between a 100% up to $600 first deposit bonus OR $50 Free Play. Players from UK will get a Matched Bonus & £40 Free Play You will also get up to 60% rakeback via the Fish Buffet, our private freerolls, races and various other GGPoker promotions.

Terms and conditions apply. New customer offer and 18+ only. Should you require help regarding your betting pattern, please visit www.begambleaware.org

Filed Under: Poker Gossip Poker News

Categories

GGPoker Welcome Bonus
Brands
Date (UTC-0)
Prizes
 
8th Dec 20:00
$250
15th Dec 18:30
$250
22nd Dec 18:30
$250
29th Dec 18:30
$250
5th Jan 18:30
$250
12th Jan 20:00
$250
19th Jan 18:30
$250
26th Jan 18:30
$250
31st Jan 18:30
$250
ewallet-general-banner-new-version-2021