State v. Mr. C (DMC No. 14461) – Felony Money Laundering ($362,000 Cash and 37 Gold Coins) – Not Charged and Property Not Forfeited – Lake Havasu Police Department Investigated (DR No. 20XX-XXXXX3).

Mr. C was a Lake Havasu resident who had been riding as a passenger in a car with a friend of his. He and the other gentleman had been drinking, and at some point the driver had stopped the vehicle partially blocking two separate roadways. Mr. C had gotten out of the vehicle and was laying on the ground in a highly intoxicated state. When police arrived, they arrested the driver for DUI, and they arrested Mr. C for “offensive conduct” and open container.

Inside of the vehicle, they found one open bottle of scotch and five unopened bottles on the passenger side floorboard. Upon searching the vehicle, they also found $362,000 in cash along with 37 gold coins (with a value of approximately $55,000).

The police immediately suspected them of Money Laundering, and they obtained a search warrant to search his house. They also seized the money, the coins and his vehicle.

We became involved in the case and we were able to show the police that Mr. C does not trust banks and he has been saving for over twenty years and keeping his money at his house. He also was an avid gold coin collector. We showed them where the hidden compartments in his home are that he has been using as his own personal bank vault. In addition, we put together a statement with documentation showing them what really happened the night Mr. C was arrested. Mr. C’s 8-year old granddaughter had leukemia and was not doing well. In a drunken stupor Mr. C asked his friend, who was also drunk, to drive him to Las Vegas so he could hire a doctor. He took all of his cash and 37 of his gold coins in order to hire this doctor. We were also able to produce past business records which showed that all of the money was legitimately earned. No charges were ever brought against Mr. C, and his money, coins and car were all returned.