Ooo boy (found this in my email today)

[tat2me82]

Mistake costs dishwasher $59,000


From John Zarrella and Patrick Oppmann
CNN



MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- For 11 years, Pedro Zapeta, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala , lived his version of the American dream in Stuart , Florida : washing dishes and living frugally to bring money back to his home country.

Pedro Zapeta, an illegal immigrant, managed to save $59,000 while working as a dishwasher for 11 years.

Two years ago, Zapeta was ready to return to Guatemala , so he carried a duffel bag filled with $59,000 -- all the cash he had scrimped and saved over the years -- to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

But when Zapeta tried to go through airport security, an officer spotted the money in the bag and called U.S. customs officials.

"They asked me how much money I had," Zapeta recalled, speaking to CNN in Spanish.

He told the customs officials $59,000. At that point, U.S. customs seized his money, setting off a two-year struggle for Zapeta to get it back.

Zapeta, who speaks no English, said he didn't know he was running afoul of U.S. law by failing to declare he was carrying more than $10,000 with him. Anyone entering or leaving the country with more than $10,000 has to fill out a one-page form declaring the money to U.S. customs.

Officials initially accused Zapeta of being a courier for the drug trade, but they dropped the allegation once he produced pay stubs from restaurants where he had worked. Zapeta earned $5.50 an hour at most of the places where he washed dishes. When he learned to do more, he got a 25-cent raise.

After customs officials seized the money, they turned Zapeta over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The INS released him but began deportation proceedings. For two years, Zapeta has had two attorneys working pro bono: one on his immigration case, the other trying to get his money back.

"They are treating me like a criminal when all I am is a working man," he said.



'Out in the Open'



The latest on Pedro Zapeta's case is brought "Out in the Open" on Friday night on CNN.


Zapeta's story became public last year on CNN and in The Palm Beach Post newspaper, prompting well-wishers to give him nearly $10,000 -- money that now sits in a trust.

Robert Gershman, one of Zapeta's attorneys, said federal prosecutors later offered his client a deal: He could take $10,000 of the original cash seized, plus $9,000 in donations as long as he didn't talk publicly and left the country immediately.

Zapeta said, "No." He wanted all his money. He'd earned it, he said.

Now, according to Gershman, the Internal Revenue Service wants access to the donated cash to cover taxes on the donations and on the money Zapeta made as a dishwasher. Zapeta admits he never paid taxes.

CNN contacted the U.S. Attorneys office in Miami , U.S. Customs and the IRS about Zapeta's case. They all declined to comment.

Marisol Zequeira, an immigration lawyer, said illegal immigrants such as Zapeta have few options when dealing with the U.S. government.

"When you are poor, uneducated and illegal, your avenues are cut," he said.

On Wednesday, Zapeta went to immigration court and got more bad news. The judge gave the dishwasher until the end of January to leave the country on his own. He's unlikely to see a penny of his money.

"I am desperate," Zapeta said. "I no longer feel good about this country."

Zapeta said his goal in coming to the United States was to make enough money to buy land in his mountain village and build a home for his mother and sisters. He sent no money back to Guatemala over the years, he said, and planned to bring it all home at once.

At Wednesday's hearing, Zapeta was given official status in the United States -- voluntary departure -- and a signed order from a judge. For the first time, he can work legally in the U.S.

By the end of January, Zapeta may be able to earn enough money to pay for a one-way ticket home so the U.S. government, which seized his $59,000, doesn't have to do so.

Mistake costs dishwasher $59,000 - CNN.com

[K C Muffin]

Holy God. I understand the guy was illegal. I understand he didn't pay taxes. So withhold the taxes, deport the guy and give him his money! He earned it, even though he was an illegal - somebody hired him. That makes them a criminal too. His only mistake was not sending the money home as he earned it - or else having a bank account so he could transfer it by wire. Too bad. What a harsh lesson to learn. "Give me your tired, your poor...." indeed.

[wordsmythe]

Originally Posted by K C Muffin

Holy God. I understand the guy was illegal. I understand he didn't pay taxes. So withhold the taxes, deport the guy and give him his money! He earned it, even though he was an illegal - somebody hired him. That makes them a criminal too. His only mistake was not sending the money home as he earned it - or else having a bank account so he could transfer it by wire. Too bad. What a harsh lesson to learn. "Give me your tired, your poor...." indeed.

So you think the money gained through the commission of a crime should stay with the criminal?

If a criminal kills someone and after they do they take the victims wallet is the money theirs too?

[tat2me82]

He got that job illegally, therefore made that money illegally (the employer should be in trouble too) didn't pay taxes, didn't even bother to learn english in the 11 years he was here!!!!
I don't understand any part of the situation. Than he says he didn't do anything illegal???/

[Tee]

If we simply withhold the money he should have paid in taxes, what kind of mesage would that send? "Cheat on your taxes and the worse that can happen is you'll have to pay them"

No, I am pretty sure if you caculate the penalties and interest we'd have to pay if we were caught, the 59k would be gone. He's lucky if he makes a clean break, without jailtime.

And if he "no longer feels good about this country" a country where stealing and breaking the law is not allowed, then piss on him.

[jeezeweeze]

I agree with Tee

My knee jerk response was to feel sorry for him. Then when you analyze the whole picture, there is a different outcome. At least for me

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by K C Muffin

Holy God. I understand the guy was illegal. I understand he didn't pay taxes. So withhold the taxes, deport the guy and give him his money! He earned it, even though he was an illegal - somebody hired him. That makes them a criminal too. His only mistake was not sending the money home as he earned it - or else having a bank account so he could transfer it by wire. Too bad. What a harsh lesson to learn. "Give me your tired, your poor...." indeed.

there's nothing wrong with give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...etc etc....but the thing is legally. The guy is a criminal alien. What rights does a criminal have? His only mistake wasn't NOT sending the money home. His FIRST mistake was coming here illegally. The libs WANT you to feel sorry for this guy and make the gov't look like the bad people....Zapeta was quoted saying "I no longer feel good about this country"... well guess what dude...take your criminal alien ass right back across the border to where you came from and feel good THERE.....Notice how CNN painted this story.

[K C Muffin]

Ok, ok, ok - that was my knee jerk, too. I just wish these people could do what they're doing legally. I know they are from poor families and are just trying to help (some of them, anyway).

[WizardofOz]

Well...."they treating me like a criminal" is pretty much what you are hero. Break the laws coming into the US, then break the laws traveling out. If you have pay stubs and working illegally, then I would wonder whose identity you were working under.

The whole not speaking English aspect don't get any brownie points either. Most government and commercial websites, pamphlets, or Univision is in Spanish. The guy who sold him the stolen docs or brought him over can speak Spanish to help him understand the rules for international travel with large sums of money (hmmm....wonder why Customs thought he was a drug courier). He must not be that bright either considering he could have wired the money home. Banks are even offering accounts to illegals so they can make their buck off of them too. I would agree with KC Muffin....tax the donations, ensure the wages he made were properly taxed (i.e. he didn't write 5 exemptions on the W-4 when he is single), check for a victim if there is a stolen identity, and reimburse them. Also make it part of the deal that he has to give up the person(s) who brought him here. Oh yeah....don't forget to fine the business.

[K C Muffin]

Wordy - easily swayed? I prefer to think I can see both sides of a story (unless I'm part of the story). Sometimes I don't see it quite as well as I think I do.