Judge orders city to return $190k seized RICO from brothers, city refuses

12-12-2010 • Chicago Tribune

Two brothers who say police unlawfully seized more than $190,000 from them during a traffic stop had been under surveillance and were suspected of drug-dealing, a lawyer for the city of Aurora said today during a court hearing.

Though neither Jose nor Jesus Martinez is charged with a crime, authorities are seeking forfeiture of $190,040 found in Jesus' truck when he was stopped by an Aurora police officer on Oct. 18.

A Kane County judge ordered the money returned, but the city has refused.

3 Comments in Response to Judge orders city to return $190k seized RICO from brothers, city refuses

Comment by Jeffery Scism

Entered on: 12/22/2010 10:49:26 AM

If you have CASH, they always ASSUME you got it illegally.

They failed to charge these guys, but want to keep the Money.

Why am I not surprised. The city probably either had someone steal it from the evidence lock-up, OR put it into its budget and spent it.

Comment by PureTrust

Entered on: 12/13/2010 6:30:18 PM

Where are the tax records on the business earnings? You know, like receipts and invoices and such. Nobody even talks about that. Is it too big of an investigation to go and find witnesses that the business did work for, just to show that the business could have earned the money? Of course, if there aren't any tax records or business witesses...

Comment by Justen Robertson

Entered on: 12/13/2010 8:04:07 AM

Of course they're refusing. They probably already spent it on pink cadillacs and fur coats for their wives.

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