Isn't this taking it a little too far?

[DaveTN]

All True, but thousands of dollars seized and no arrests???

Many times search warrants are executed without arrests during an investigation. Arrests may follow.

If a decision is made not to prosecute; anyone that had money seized as evidence should get it back. If the DA refuses then he is the criminal and the case should become public.

I thought it was one thousand. If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a million times….. Don’t exaggerate.

[Oh Shoot]

...I thought it was one thousand. If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a million times….. Don’t exaggerate.

A grand in a 5 or 6 way poker game isn't really very much, especially in that part of town. Hell, even I have played in that league before.

Sounds like just an evening among buddies so far.

- OS

[BigK]

Just read a post on the KNS website. These guys apparently were playing with chips and the money that was seized came out of their wallets and their vehicles parked outside.

Whoa, I almost missed this comment. I'm guessing I'm not "up" on the details of the forfeiture law, b/c I cannot see how this makes sense. Confiscating money from 6 or 7 guys' wallets/cars that only totals up to $1K is chump change. Assuming the cash is related to illegal activity is crazy...Evel Knievel couldn't make that jump!

[Guest mosinon]

The state and federal asset forfeiture apply to everyone, regardless of innocence or guilt. Even if you

are guilty, why is it the state or federal government's property? It's a bull**** law that funds things

for government and is punishment before trial. Should have never been allowed to happen.

+1 to that. There's already a way to punish people by taking their property if they are guilty it is called a fine.

[StPatrick]

The money was confiscated. No mention of whether it was seized under civil asset forfeiture or whether it was seized as evidence.

According to the article the case was referred the DA's office. This is quite common in cases involving multiple suspects. Charges may be brought by Grand Jury indictment or a Grand Jury informational indictment or the DA's office may want warrants taken for some people and not others. Arresting everyone that night could have compromised a source before LE or the DA's office wanted that source outed.

As far as asset forfeiture laws are concerned in TN they could use some work and I am certain that is going to happen sooner than later.

2 things here: 1) nice handle; I hope you're that productive, because somebody's got to pay for the system, and 2) Am I mistaken in believing that poker was legal as long as whoever acts as the "house" is not taking a rake? If friendly games are actually illegal, from poker to a friendly Nassau on the golf course, et al., what's to stop selective enforcement of gambling laws? This seems like an area of the law that could be used to punish political or civic "enemies" as needed or expedient.

I guess I'm glad I've never placed a wager amongst friends on the outcome of some certain event; it makes more legal and financial sense to play the lottery. /heavy, heavy sarcasm

[Mike.357]

i find it funny that they bust poker games, when I know for a fact that there is number running on the east side of Knox, and a multitude of raffles for profit. And there is no way the cops don't know about the numbers game.

[Mechanic_X]

All crime must be solved or stopped in Knoxville all the way down to residential poker games.

Poker is a game of skill not luck therefore not gambling. But that is another story.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

If gambling were the only vice in the world I could effortlessly be a saint. It just ain't any fun for me. Difficult to understand the attraction.

But it seems meddling to interfere with other folks' fun.

Maybe there is a reasonable place for law to assure that games are fair. Unfair games I suppose would be another form of theft or con? Haven't given it much thought. It seems reasonable that food should publish an approximate calorie count and ingredients. Investments should warn of risks of loss. Perhaps reasonable that a game should publish the odds?

Maybe law could require that all bets be up-front with liquid funds? That might avoid Lenny having to go break a feller's leg to collect a bet?

Casinos add a veneer of civility to the sport, but one of the important rules for avoiding trouble in ordinary bars and honky-tonks is to steer clear of the gamblers. Trouble often breaks out in vicinity of the pool table.

[DaveTN]

Trouble often breaks out in vicinity of the pool table.

Yes…. But that’s because of alcohol not gambling.

[FUJIMO]

Yes…. But that’s because of alcohol not gambling.

And all along I thought it was because Patrick Swayze had better looking hair than Terry Funk