Mistake costs illegal immigrant dishwasher $59,000

[NavarreMan 10]

On June 23, 2008, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the judge who fined Pedro Zapeta applied an incorrect standard in determining the amount to be forfeited. The appeals court ordered a hearing to set a new fine. CNN Full story.

As of Saturday, June 28th, CNN's Rick Sanchez was reporting that authorities he contacted where reporting that they would not be appealing the Circuit Court of Appeals decision, so after 3 years Mr. Zapeta will finally get back his money.

Mr. Zapeta had already paid taxes on the money and all but $5000 will be returned according to attorney Robert Gershman. Counselor Gershman who represents Zapeta on the seized funds also helped set up a fund for Pedro Zapeta after authorities seized his money and some $15,000 was received in donations.

[Moto-zutto 0]

On June 23, 2008, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the judge who fined Pedro Zapeta applied an incorrect standard in determining the amount to be forfeited. The appeals court ordered a hearing to set a new fine. CNN Full story.

As of Saturday, June 28th, CNN's Rick Sanchez was reporting that authorities he contacted where reporting that they would not be appealing the Circuit Court of Appeals decision, so after 3 years Mr. Zapeta will finally get back his money.

Mr. Zapeta had already paid taxes on the money and all but $5000 will be returned according to attorney Robert Gershman. Counselor Gershman who represents Zapeta on the seized funds also helped set up a fund for Pedro Zapeta after authorities seized his money and some $15,000 was received in donations.

so beware, if you are an illegal, you can still beat the system! WOW!

[HAL 9000 96]

I'm telling you... this plus those under the table $1000/week jobs... all of us should learn and claim we're illegals too.

[MaxOnline 0]

he lived 11 years in the US and he doesn't know that he'll get busted carrying all that money in a bag walking down in the airport? no one of his fellow Latinos talked to him in Spanish and told him that? probably he didn't tell anyone of his co-workers that he has 59,000 USD hidden under his bed lest they give him a visit!

[panamania79 2]

he lived 11 years in the US and he doesn't know that he'll get busted carrying all that money in a bag walking down in the airport? no one of his fellow Latinos talked to him in Spanish and told him that? probably he didn't tell anyone of his co-workers that he has 59,000 USD hidden under his bed lest they give him a visit!

He probabaly thought He'd get away with it.

[Amor1 0]

I believe that is a double standard. What will happen to the restaurants that hired and paid him over the years? His money was taxed already, I'm confident. He worked long hours, lived frugally, and saved. That is a positive example for all humans on earth. Was it illegal for him to EWI? Yes. Does he a deserve a fine/the option of departing voluntarily? Perhaps, but allow him his dignity and his life savings minus any unpaid tax portion. The man did not murder someone, nor did he sell illegal drugs to get $59,000. Ultimately, he lived, I believe, quiet, guarded life to provide one day for his family, keeping close his dream of building a home for his mother and sisters. Give him a chance to do just that. $19,000 in his country with many starving, underpaid family members would not stretch that far. I imagine that most Vjers have never been to a poor country like Guatemal, so they have no idea what his life was like b/f he came here illegally, nor do they know just how much his family needs his hard-earned savings. I say to this gentle soul--God bless you.--Amor1

Hmmmm, illegal earnings by an illegal alien. I say tax the 59K and bounce him with the balance. He did, afterall, earn it.

They treated him like a criminal Because HE IS a criminal

illegal earnings made by an illegal criminal, he got what was coming to him

Hopfeully ISCIS will Deport his illegal ### and tax the hell out of his illegal earnings, and fine him for every year he was in USA illegally

then he can take whats left of his money and most likely by then it will be under 10K so he will be ok with customes while being deported

[Niels Bohr 72]

I agree MMartinez. He deserves his dignity. If works in another country, his time his money minus the tax.

Another thing I like to comment on. In the US, most of us are very greedy. We like to be politically correct by giving 50 cents to charity in front of the salvation army bell during those snowy days or christmas days. However, little do we grasp or most people grasp the corporate scandals happening that are invisibly consuming our daily lives. They outsource low cost labor, and paying for goods produced by these people at very low cost and sell them at 200-500% markup. Yet, while we buy these things at a ridiculous markup the foreign workers overseas are struggling to feed their families. That bell at the front of store where the volunteer needs donations for a good cause gets obliviously ignored. And we much more happier feeding the corporations instead of the people. This is the US.

Edited September 27, 2008 by consolemaster