A New Low: Government Steals from Hard-Working Immigrant
September 28, 2007 – 1:15 pmWell here we go. It’s not enough that we mistreat those that come here to work and help our economy, now our government takes the few dollars they earn over many years.
I will say that the person never paid any taxes and this means that he probably owes some money to the government, but then again how much could he possible owe when he earned only $5.50-$6 an hour?
I am pretty sure he does not owe $49,000 — the amount of money that the government wants to keep because he failed to declare the money on his way home. For the love of all that is holy — he didn’t even know that he had to. After all, I have a law degree and I don’t know or understand customs regulations. I am not sure that the dishwasher from Guatemala who doesn’t speak English should have to pay a $49,000 fine (includes some back taxes) for not knowing the U.S. declaration requirements.
You can read about Pedro Zapeta’s story here.
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2 Responses to “A New Low: Government Steals from Hard-Working Immigrant”
If you were US District Judge James I. Cohn, what would you have done? It’s clear that laws were broken. What penalties should Mr. Pedro Zapeta have had applied in the delivery justice for his failure to file the correct form and tax evasion infractions?
In pursuing this case, Judge Cohn had a choice, a criminal or a civil proceeding. Clearly, everyone who feels like Mr. Zapeta is guilty of something here would agree this should have tried as a criminal matter. Had he been found for a criminal violation, the fine would have been up to $5000 on the matter of the form.
Judge Cohn, however, instead chose to try this as a civil matter. What’s the liklihood he knew enough about the case in advance to suspect Mr. Zapeta’s guilt? Hard to say. We would like to believe our federal judges are honest and ethical and are commited to delivering justice. What Judge James I. Cohn did know in advance, and very well to be sure since this is the essence of his job, was that the damages Mr. Zapeta faced as a civil defendent against the government were vastly higher.
This is injustice, not justice.
As to the taxes, an appropriate claim for taxes due could have filed by the IRS. Even the additional punitive charges for failure to file/pay could have been applied. Damages would still not equate to the justice Mr. Pedro Zapeta has received as a result of this civil suit.
If anyone disagrees with this ruling of US District Judge James I. Cohn, they should let him know what they think. They should hold him accountable.
After a quick google search, this is the phone number to his office. You can leave him a voice mail by dialing:
1-954-769-5490
and then pressing 6
Or you could write him, this is his address:
299 East Broward Boulevard, 203F
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
and his email is cohn@flsd.uscourts.gov
This is a federal judge, he works for you.
Let him now how you feel.
By Bob West on Sep 28, 2007
This year more than ever before, I noticed how the government takes power to exercise injustice from its health care policies to immigration. I discussed this case with my friend who immigrated from Brazil, unimpressed he replied “…at least he got to keep some of the money, not like the rest of us who are here working hard and still don’t have any.”
By Milena P. on Sep 30, 2007