Pubdate: Tue, 04 Apr 2006
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 2006 The Des Moines Register.
Contact:  http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123
Author: Juli Probasco-Sowers
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have  not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public  figures or officials.

$781,000 SEIZED FROM DRIVER

The driver of a car with Illinois license plates that authorities say 
was stopped in Dallas County with more than $781,000 hidden in secret 
compartments was driven by a California man who was not charged with a crime.

Deputy Scott Faiferlick issued a warning ticket for tinted windows to 
[Name redacted], 30, of Stockton, Calif.

Faiferlick said he then noticed the car had fresh paint and smelled 
of body putty. Court documents show the deputy became suspicious when 
[Name redacted] and a female passenger told conflicting stories.

[Name redacted] gave permission for the car to be searched at a 
nearby Iowa Department of Transportation garage, where deputies 
allegedly turned up 27 packets of money in several hidden compartments.

Frederick said the garage is used regularly for such searches.

"We have access to tools and jacks there, so it makes things easier," he said.

[Name redacted] reportedly signed a form that stated the money did 
not belong to him or his female passenger, whom officials did not 
identify. Sheriff's officials Monday refused to provide a copy of the 
signed form. Chief Deputy Kevin Frederick said the couple was allowed 
to leave. The car, however, remains in Adel at the sheriff's department.

Scott County Sheriff Dennis Conard, whose deputies often encounter 
suspicious vehicles in high-traffic areas near Interstate Highway 80 
in eastern Iowa, said Dallas County deputies did not break from 
normal practice, either in the stop or the cash seizure, when they 
released [Name redacted] and his passenger.

Conard pointed out that carrying large sums of money is not a crime. 
And if the vehicle's occupants say they were unaware of the hidden 
cash, there simply might have been no probable cause to arrest them, he said.

"You have to first build a case before you can put them in jail," 
Conard said. "Once you've identified them, you can find them again" 
should evidence of a crime surface.

Bill Vaughn, the Polk County sheriff's chief deputy, agreed.

"We've had a couple of stops out on the interstate . . . and yes, 
we've done just that," Vaughn said.

He said deputies would carefully document the car's passengers and, 
if evidence later incriminated them, "we would go and secure an 
arrest warrant and have that person picked up."

Reporters were unable Monday to locate Jimenez through public records.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman