Nope - no sympathy here...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/immigrant.money/index.html
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.
1 of 2 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.
At 8 p.m. ET Friday
see full schedule ?
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.
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.
1 of 2 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.
At 8 p.m. ET Friday
see full schedule ?
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.
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Um, he IS a criminal. What part of "illegal" don't people understand? 0 -
Also no sympathy here. He should forfeit all monies and be charged for his airfare back to where he came from.
As others have said, "What part of illegal don't you understand."0 -
Let's see. Broke into our country illegally. Illegally failed to pay taxes to help pay for some of the things he used/enjoyed/depended on while in this country.
All illegal activity. Although I do respect him for working hard at a lousely job and not blowing his money.0 -
Hmm... let me see if I care...
NOPE!0 -
[8D]-- 
--[:)][^]--JIMBO0 -
quote:"They are treating me like a criminal when all I am is a working man," he said.
No, you are a criminal
You Illegaly broke into this country
You Illegaly failed to pay taxes
You Illegaly carried large amounts of cash onto an airplane
Three strikes, your out0 -
I just read the story, before I saw it in here. I think, since he was here illegally, he has no rights to the money. And he thinks he is not criminal, hell yes he is! And so are those other 12 million illegals that are in this country illegally, damn mofos! 0 -
Before it's over with he'll probably be given a new car, a house, and a high paying job...and all his family.. 0 -
quote:No, you are a criminal
You Illegaly broke into this country
You Illegaly failed to pay taxes
You Illegaly carried large amounts of cash onto an airplane
Three strikes, your out
Yep.
Jon0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mk 19
quote:"They are treating me like a criminal when all I am is a working man," he said.
No, you are a criminal
You Illegaly broke into this country
You Illegaly failed to pay taxes
You Illegaly carried large amounts of cash onto an airplane
Three strikes, your out
More like one for him...i hate him0 -
Here in Sheridan, OryGun, we are beginning to experience problems with undocumented Finns.
Doug0 -
I'm damned impressed that a guy making $5.50 an hour was able to save nearly $60,000 in just 11 years. I've got guys working for me who I pay $100K per year who probably could not manage that. The law is the law, although it is a stupid law, so he forfits the cash. 0 -
VOTE FOR PEDRO 0 -
I definitely don't agree with the income tax system, but if I gotta pay it, he better damn well be paying it too! 0 -
Guess he has not heard of Western Union. 0 -
"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. " .... Wonder if Unkle Sam is going
to have a "litle talk" with these restuarants he worked at about tax not with held, S.S. payments and the likes ? Just might discourage this kind of a thing.0 -
He lived in the country 11 years and spoke no english...He was not suppose to be here so as far as I am concerned the 59,000 was rent. 0
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