An armored car company is suing the Federal Government, claiming law enforcement agents have illegally seized marijuana dispensary cash the company was transporting. The Federal Lawsuit, filed by Empyreal Logistics, comes after a Sheriff’s Deputy in Dickinson County, stopped one of the Empyreal’s vehicles last year on Interstate 70 for an unspecified traffic violation and seized nearly $166,000 in cash it was transporting from marijuana dispensaries in Kansas City, Missouri to a credit union in Colorado.
The U. S. Attorney’s office in Kansas subsequently filed a Civil Forfeiture Action against Empyreal, arguing the seized cash was traceable to sales that violated the Federal Controlled Substances Act; that case is pending.
Under the Federal Equitable Sharing Program, the Federal Government shares assets seized in Civil Forfeitures with State and local law enforcement agencies. Empyreal says not a single traffic citation was issued to any Empyreal driver during any of the five traffic stops mentioned in its complaint
