Law enforcement veteran Michael Letts discusses the potential actions by the bureau, and wonders why they would consider stealing money.
There has been a lot of discussion about reported shady actions by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), including investigating innocent Americans based on their religious choices and online actions. But a new report from Fox News indicates that the agency might be stealing money from citizens as well.
Two Americans have filed charges against the FBI, noting how their money was taken through seized property. Both of these citizens had safety deposit boxes at U.S. Private Vaults back in 2021, which came under a raid by the FBI in March of that month. This comes after they had previously filed charges, only for the bureau to return all of their property – but some of it went missing.
“All we know is that their property was in a box and safe before the FBI broke into the box,” explained Joe Gay, an attorney with the nonprofit law firm Institute for Justice. “Once the FBI broke into the box, we honestly don’t know exactly what happened. We don’t know if they lost it. We don’t know if somebody pocketed it and walked away. We have no way to know.”
One of the defendants, Dom Mellein, had hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold coins in his safety deposit box, before the FBI seized it using a process known as civil forfeiture. This is a common practice, as this Fox report reveals. It indicates that the government – and its involved agencies – use a “legal maze” in an effort to “wage war” on Americans’ property.
Jeni Pearsons, the other defendant in the case, noted, “It was very disingenuous and shady even,” she told Fox News. “It’s the least transparent process. It’s not something that you would do if your intent was to find out who these items belonged to.”
Here to discuss this further is Michael Letts, a law enforcement veteran with over 30 years of experience under his belt. Letts is President, Founder and CEO of InVest USA, an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers through various charitable groups and sponsorships. His expertise is certainly welcome in this matter.
Q&A:
- First off, what do you think about this “civil forfeiture” process that the FBI seems to be using to keep private assets owned by citizens? Is it legal by any means?
- Why would the FBI try to keep something seized in public safety deposit boxes? Are they concerned it’s evidence of some kind, or are agents just inexperienced enough to lose things when returning them?
- We’ve been hearing reports about FBI director Christopher Wray and his bureau over the past year or so. Do you believe there’s a lot there that they’re simply not telling us?
- Why do you believe the FBI – and for that matter, the Department of Justice – aren’t speaking more about the cases put against them? Does the Biden Administration have a hand in it?
- What do you think needs to be done with the FBI in an effort to “right the ship,” as it were?
- You’re the creator of InVest USA, an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers through various charitable groups and sponsorships. Tell us more about that, and why support for fellow officers is so important right now.
- Tell us more about RestoringJustice.US, the new website where you help out citizens in need surrounding law matters.
- Where can we learn more about InVest USA, Restoring Justice and whatever else you’re working on?
- You can visit our official InVest USA website, and learn more on the official Invest USA Twitter account. You can also learn about our new initiative at RestoringJustice.US.
About Michael Letts…
Michael Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. He also has over 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, hence his pro-police stance for his brothers and sisters in blue. Those interested in learning more about Letts can visit his official website here.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: geraldmcg@outlook.com or 919-437-0001.
