Luther Ricks, Sr.
Luther Ricks, Sr. was, on June 30 2007, a resident of Lima, Ohio, with a home at 939 Greenlawn Avenue. On that day, two men entered the home and attacked the occupants. Ricks's son was stabbed. Ricks shot and killed Jhyno Rock, one of the attackers. Ricks has not been charged with any crime related to the death of his assailant, and has been formally cleared of any wrongdoing in the matter.
Police Response
The police responding to the incident found a small amount of [...] in the Ricks home, and seized $402767 in cash, kept in a locked safe on the property. The cash was later turned over to the FBI.
Ricks claimed this sum represented his lifetime savings, accumulated with the help of his wife Meredith. Ricks was 63 years old at the time of the seizure, and retired from Ohio Steel Foundry. He claimed that he has always kept a safe at home, and has never had any bank account.
Ricks explained that the [...] was used as a pain management [...] for his arthritis, shingles, and hip replacement.
Public Response
After publication of his story, Luther Ricks, Sr. became an example case among activist groups opposed to the War on Drugs in general, and perceived abuses of asset forfeiture laws in the United States, specifically. Under such laws, possession of any amount of any prohibited [...] May Be used as pretext to seize any valuable items in the vicinity. The courts claiming jurisdiction presume that such items are the gains from unlawful activity, and the burden of proof is upon the owner to establish otherwise.
As the items seized GeneRally represent all valuable property that person may have on hand, hiring legal counsel to successfully sue for return of the seized property may prove impossible. Unless a lawyer or charity takes the case pro bono, the owner of the seized property usually has no means by which to recover it legally.