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Deport Pedro Zapeta Back to Guatemala

But give him back his $59K

11 years ago, Pedro Zapeta broke the law by sneaking into our country illegally. And when he finally tried to go back home on his own accord, he broke the law again by failing to report the $59K he was carrying with him:

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.

I’m fairly consistent in my “tough on crime” views…but I think that common sense and common decency should prevail at times. And this is one of those times.

Zapeta is not a bad person for either of the laws that he broke. The money was not “ill-gotten” via drugs, theft, or other illegal means (as far as we know). And, it appeared that he was trying to do what most of wish all illegals would do — go back home.

Mr. Zapeta should be escorted to the other side of our country’s southern border and never be allowed to return, but for goodness sake — give the man his money back (all of it — minus the taxes he admits that he never paid on his income, plus any fines and interest owed to the IRS. OK, so maybe he wont’ get any money back after all. But hey, if I had to pay fines and interest to the IRS for an error on my taxes from 3 years ago, then this guy should have to do the same).

Also, since he proved the money was his via pay stubs — I’d love to see the government fine the shit out of those places where he worked illegally for 11 years.

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Friday, September 28th, 2007 | Trackback |

33 Responses to “Deport Pedro Zapeta Back to Guatemala”

I agree…as long as he pays his taxes, all of them and the employer is heavily fined.

Left by Dianne on September 28th, 2007 at 11:10 am

He did pay taxes. The judge’s opinion even notes that he actually paid income tax even though his income didn’t reach the level at which you have to pay taxes.

What happened was that he didn’t FILE.

Left by Carol on September 28th, 2007 at 11:21 am

I think that the IRS, customs, and whomever else is responsible for the seizure of this mans money should be ashamed of themselves. Many americans were victim to the machine that makes up our government… this guy washed frickin’ dishes to save up 59k. Do any of you have any idea what its like to save up that kind of money over 11 years with making only ~$5/hr? And to do this by washing dishes?!

Dear Customs and IRS - grow a heart and give this poor guy his money back.

Left by eXe on September 28th, 2007 at 11:43 am

First of all he should be here. second the people who paid him should not have hired him. third he did not file. does there need to be a fourth reason?? This guy broke so many laws it’s not funny, and the people who employed him should be investigated up one side and down the other and fined big time if not arrested. Just what is an American citizen always told?? Ignorance of the law is no excuse.! No different for this guy. Ignorance is no excuse. Hey Pedro why not do a little research before you just walk into another country and just start going about your business like everythings fine and dandy. I say take his money and send him home with orders to never return or face long jail sentence.. Let this be an example to the next guy who does the same thing. We need more examples of cracking down, not the wimpy actions we are taking now. Do you think if you went to work in France or England and they caught you coming home with bag full of pounds they would not take it? You think you would ever see that money again? Heck no. You would be lucky to leave and not be put in jail. why is America such a whipping boy when it comes to this issue.? These people are not citizens, they have no right to be here much less work here. It is Americans who are the stupid ones in this whole mess. We elect weak, no backbone representative and then we have stupid people in this country that hire these people. Where is the stupid in this equation? On America! and squarely on our elected officials who have sold this country completely out. There should be a for sale sign on every port, airport terminal, immigration office…”Hey America for sale!!” this way to the bleeding hearts who will help you get your chunk of what’s left of the pie. Screw all the people standing in line waiting to immigrate the right way….suckers.

Left by Marc on September 28th, 2007 at 11:57 am

Hey…I’ve been checking out this story in the news. Seems the guy has had two pro bono attorneys this whole time, one specifically related to his taxes. Now c’mon, nobody can tell me that you can’t file back taxes and penalties, legal immigrant or not. It’s done all the time. If he didn’t owe any taxes, the attorney should have easily been able to show that. Now, he’s getting donations…hell he’ll end up with hundreds of thousands from bleeding heart liberals before this is all over.

Left by Dianne on September 28th, 2007 at 12:07 pm

Rarely am I so bothered by a deportation case, but this one stands out. I have to admire this fellow’s hard work and commitment. Give him his taxed revenue, let him go home and let’s get on with it.

Left by Kevin on September 28th, 2007 at 12:22 pm

Fine him as you would an American, then let him keep what’s left. Then send him home at his expense. Fine his employers. If it becomes more costly to employers to hire illegals, they won’t, and the jobs dry up.

Beware of the sob stories coming as illegals are cracked down on. They will all become heroic victims. If they were heroic they would stay home and work to chnge the conditions in the home country.

Left by TomR on September 28th, 2007 at 1:01 pm

Beware of the sob stories coming as illegals are cracked down on.

I hope you’ll be a real man and live up to your convictions. You could do that by never eating in a restaurant where illegals wash the dishes, never staying in a hotel where illegals make your bed or clean your room, never living or staying in a structure built by illegals and never eating any food grown, harvested or processed by illegals.

Stealing this guys money that he saved by working for $5.50 an hour is as chickenshit as it gets. And at $5.50 an hour how the hell does anyone figure he owes taxes?

Left by Pug on September 28th, 2007 at 1:43 pm

Away with you, you fool.

Go live in third world countries for years and see how the other half live (actually what is it 75% of the worlds population living on under 1 US per day ?)

Folks such as this are the social insects of our world.They keep the thing ticking oer.

One day something will likely happen to you that will perhaps make you reflect on your callousness or you’ll simply be one of those ‘orrific people one would never want to be with if the chips were down.

Where have you lived aside from the US ?
Pitiful and about as elegant as a very stupid loaf of bread

Left by simon fellows on September 28th, 2007 at 3:28 pm

Its another story of whose who. Anyone is right in saying that if someone had more of an education or funds that they could very well hire a manipulating crooked lawyer ready to defend the lawlessness. If one beats the law in the United States and that laws are meant to be broken then why not everyone else. Its just like the celebrities in CA, all they get is a slap on the hand even if they commit murder. A question we should be asking ourselves is that how far we ready to tolerate criminals in any varying degree. Mr. Zapeta is smarter than anyone gives him credit for and he knew that he was risking a hefty payout when he first came into the US. He’s just playing dumb to gain sympathy and like every other jokester or con artist he’s pulled in money from those who would fall for anything. When it comes to illegal immigrants sueing to get money they think they earned without thinking that they have to pay taxes, you have no clue what mess your getting yourself into when you mess with not paying taxes. If we as Americans have to pay taxes so do you. Sure all of us Americans would love to keep 100% of our money we earned, but thats not the way it works, what makes Mr. Zapeta any different than us, well the only one thing is that he came here illegally and now he’s granted amnesty more or less. What makes him so special? Special in the head if he thinks for minute anyone who knows about this and are Americans are going to back him up. Of course there have already been supporters, probably illegal immigrants as well. Its like this people, if you go into a neighboring country, chances are most likely you know the laws. It takes legal documentation to go into another country just as it is to come to this country. When their are taxes due you pay them, when you don’t pay them then you are stealing from that government, and that ladies and gentleman doesn’t sit well with me and it shouldn’t either with you. If you give a dog a bone then other dogs will want one too, and I doubt we all can afford to hand out bones.

Left by Devlin on September 28th, 2007 at 4:04 pm

Mexico is all about self interest and its people are no different. The only true American Dreams are the ones who are here or here legally. Those who are illegally, are just here for one reason and that is to make it better back at home where their family resides. I sympathize with them though, but we can’t cut slack.

Left by Devlin on September 28th, 2007 at 4:19 pm

The likely chances of this nation falling flat on their ears and asking for any help from any other country are not even slim, the number is zero. If I were to live in any other third world country, I can say that I would die than not have freedom and that alone sets you and me a billion light years apart. I served in the US Army, and like every man and woman that have died to make this country what it is today I’ll die too, if thats what it takes. There won’t be any quaking in my shoes with my hands thrown in the air. Your right, I haven’t lived in other country’s, I’m glad to have been born here in the US. I’m glad that I have a back bone and guts to die for freedom. I am Irish, Scottish, German, Jewish, Native American, and I’m sure if I were to live any such place as there were no freedom my blood would boil and would most likely be spilled on that land for freedom.

Left by Devlin on September 28th, 2007 at 4:36 pm

I can assure you that America would never let its people to hang out to dry as Mexico has done to its own. It would never suck the life out and livelyhood as Mexico has done to its people. Mexico has always been a nation of poverty because it never matured. It clung to the old ways and traditions, its run by corrupted officials and law inforcers and Mexican people don’t have the back bone to stand and make a change in their own country. They have become meek and timid.

Left by Devlin on September 28th, 2007 at 4:47 pm

I’m certain Pedro isn’t familiar with American colloquialisms, but here’s one I find appropriate…TS!

Left by no2liberals on September 28th, 2007 at 5:31 pm

The guy is from Guatemala, not Mexico.

Left by Kaitee on September 28th, 2007 at 5:35 pm

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.

Left by Bob West on September 28th, 2007 at 7:22 pm

Now that is a productive response bob. I will take that info and let that judge know how I feel in either email, or letter. That’s the thing with this immigration issue, we are all so busy what can we do? We work, have families, who has the time to do anything about it? We all need to stand up now and shout, call, email this guy and congress and whoever else actually has the power. We can at least go down fighting, not with a whimper. I am not at all optimistic on this. I really hate to be a downer, but really I think this issue has already been settled. Look at our schools, almost all Hispanic. Drive around look at a large majority of neighborhoods, all Hispanic. More and more radio, and TV stations are Spanish. Press 1 for English. Hey this war is already over we just don’t realize it yet. It’s like waking from a dream and realizing something has changed and you don’t know how or why. It’s the frog in the boiling pot scenario. If the frog jumps in the pot with hot water, he jumps out. If he jumps in and the water is cool, he stays. all the while the heat is slowly turned up and before he notices it is too hot he boils to death. That is exactly what our elected officials have done to us. Little by little they opened the doors to more and more ridiculous laws and practices…til now we are overwhelmed and to be honest, to turn back the tide now is just almost impossible. These people are here and have no intention of going back, most of them. The only way to make this happen would be to 1. repeal the amendment that allows a baby to be born here with neither parent being a citizen and the baby automatically becomes American. 2. fine and put in jail all those who hire illegals. 3. deny them access to our schools. 4. make English the nation language. 5. enforce the border, build the wall and put some military there. 6. no drivers license….I could go on and on. But like I said we no longer have the will to do even one of these things, much less all of them. So we are left with the mess this has become. A nation divided will not stand for long…never in history has this worked…It will be up to our children to deal with the cultural and economic impact this will have on america. and by then whatever changes take place will be permanent and intractable. people 50 years from now will look back that think, wow they must have been completely asleep at the wheel. And they will be spot on correct…Lastly, I am not saying lets give up. Hey give em hell and fight the good fight. Get out and vote against anyone who thinks illegal immigration is a good thing. Send emails, write letters. Stand up and be counted. But at the end of the day too many people in this country have bought into the PC brainwashing. I absolutely hope I am wrong. I hope there is someone, a leader on the horizon who will stand up and do the right thing and stop this immigration nightmare. But who that is? I don’t know. I don’t see any such person out there who has a chance of being elected, sure wish I did.

Left by marc on September 29th, 2007 at 12:17 am

Does anybody know who he worked for? I am beginning to think that he may have been in the private employ of some fat cat that wants him GONE so that he can’t testify against in a case for willful tax evasion. The real crime here is that, if taxes weren’t withheld, FICA probably wasn’t withheld either - a felony for the employer. It’s easier to prosecute this guy than the real source of the problem, namely a company or individual that is willing to hire illegal help and then avoid paying their 7.5% FICA.

Left by bob on September 29th, 2007 at 12:47 am

For years now I’ve been hearing how illegal immigrants do so much for the economy of this country. How? By not paying taxes? By not learning our laws? By not investing their money here, and taking it (or sending it) to their home country? If this man had required emergency medical care in this country, who would have paid his bills? Why do we have to subsidize such people, and what is the purpose of our legal system, if we don’t respect it?

I’ve travelled a great deal, seen wretched living conditions, and lived abroad for years. I learn as much as I can about the laws of EVERY country I visit. Amazing how that’s kept me out of trouble …

Left by big red on September 29th, 2007 at 9:50 am

I think
if one is are here illigaly /one should not reap the benefits
i am glad he is getting deported /hip /hip /hurray

Left by Anonymous on September 29th, 2007 at 11:08 am

It is Guatemala not Mexico you ignorant, pretending to be educated from Princeton, turn your ass upside down idiots! Why do all Americans assume that if your hispanic your Mexican. I think not! You lay out all of the facts to kill this mans hardwork but you can’t even retain the fact that he is from Guatemala not Mexico. Arguments are based on what YOU want to argue about. You bring up all of these facts and laws but can’t even remember his country. Go away! Go to work, love your family (if you have one), eat, sleep, go out, and have your own life! If you complain about our government and the way it is (ugh reality check, this is how it is right now, and you should know for it to change from one day to the next is not realistic) then move your asses to an island! That’s all I have to say!

Left by Chelsea on September 29th, 2007 at 11:17 am

Uhh…Chelsea, your thong is in a wad. He’s here illegally, what difference does it make from which country?
Just as he entered this world with nothing, and will depart the same way, so has he illegally done in this country.
Buh-Bye!

Left by no2liberals on September 29th, 2007 at 11:48 am

exactly N2L, who cares where he is from..he could be from iceland for all I care….people like chelsea don’t get it….he is here illegally.!! we don’t want him here. period end of story..so her argument is we got the country wrong so everything that has been said on this thread is now overturned by this error??? that is an insane argument. that’s like saying someone broke into my house with a baseball bat and took all my stuff, and then finding out it was with a knife. so now I have no case, and it’s ok all my stuff is gone because I got some detail wrong in the police report. wow fantastic logic chelsea.

Left by marc on September 29th, 2007 at 9:32 pm

Border Fence Nearly Doubles.
Faster, please!

Left by no2liberals on September 30th, 2007 at 8:44 pm

We wouldn’t have this problem if employers did not hire illegal aliens! Give Mr. Zapeta his money [minus] taxes [minus] fees (if he’d been a guest worker). Then fine the employer 2 or 3 times the amount they’ve been paying people under the table! It’s like trying to fight the drug problem buy focusing only on the users.

Left by Decatur, AL on October 1st, 2007 at 8:04 am

Sure fine the employers, even throw them in jail if that were possible. But we need to use zapeta as an example to others who will do the same. I say take his money, all of it. That sends a clear message that this is what happens if you come here illegally, work, and get caught. If we just take out taxes and give him the rest what kind of message is that? Just another limp wristed response to this issue. We don’t need any more weak, watered down, resposes to this illegal immigration issue, that’s ALL we have right now. Fine the employer to the max, and then some. Take zapetas money, and tell him to go home and never return or next time it’s prison.

Left by Marc on October 1st, 2007 at 12:41 pm

so who is going to clean your bathrooms and do all the shi.t jobs that none of you want to do for a pitance???? yeah send them allhome and hell one dirty country i say

Left by nats on October 3rd, 2007 at 2:29 pm

Uh — I clean my own bathrooms, thank you very much. Damn near everybody I know does too.

When you talk about “jobs that Americans are unwilling to do”, you’re talking out of your ass…

I used to work off-shore oil — out at sea for 30 days at a time, working outside, regardless of the weather, and doing some of the dirtiest, hardest work you could even begin to imagine.

The pay back in 1989 when I started out? $105/day. And we didn’t get paid on our 15 days off. So, I only got paid for 9 months out of the year.

I would bet that the Americans working the coal mines in West Virginia would argue with you about the dirty, tough jobs that they do …as their jobs are the hardest and dirtiest imaginable. And they do it every single day.

Left by Robbie on October 3rd, 2007 at 3:18 pm

When you talk about “jobs that Americans are unwilling to do”, you’re talking out of your ass…

You could’t have said it better: it’s specially those jobs they do, so you can keep your ass clean. Low paid dirty jobs, not off-shore ‘dirty’ jobs…

Left by Jacques on October 3rd, 2007 at 7:46 pm

I have had many jobs in the past and I have meet many people of diffrent races in my past. And currently i have found myself wondering….”what is wrong with this country” What is wrong with our people. We were once a nation that imbraced its cultural diffrences. And now as i drive down the streets I come across bumper stickers and signs telling me that I am in america and I should talk english! I mean come on people we were a country that was raised by the sweat off the imagrants brow! down here in florida I come across countless mirgant workers and, yes most of them are ilegal, But I have never seen a harder working more humble group ever in my life. I would love to see your average “american” out there in the feilds as the sun is beating down on your back picking tomatoes, squash, or what ever the hell is in season. We are a country that has grown fat an complacent on the backs of these people that have come from countries that have had nothing! nothing at all. And they come here for a better life a chance for their children. They see a golden oppurtunity here that their counrtys can not afford to give for what ever reason. I find these workers to be now the true ameicans! they are the ones striving to make a better life….they are the ones that are improving themselves and their families every day slowly but surely us home grown “natives” just sit back on our ass’s and waddle through the supermarket buying produce that they picked for us to eat. An for you nay sayers out there who may say I might not have a proper perspective about my views . first of all piss off, and futhermore I am only 25 and I have already seen a good chunk of the world. From the decadent high rises in thailand to the slums of peru I have seen how the world is. And let me tell you the world is laughing at us now. What petty actions we take against not just this man but everything we do, is shown on the world stage. And the rest of the world is waiting to see what we do next. Our next blunder our next near fanatical fasination with some celeb. Were did we go wrong, were are the leaders that we once had that seemed to have a mission a goal a shiny bright future, if you will. We are no longer a super power we are a has been, we are simply a child that has been given the keys to the SUV and the proud proper parents of our past have left the house for the weekend….oh yeah and we also fired the maid cause she cant talk english!

Left by jonathan on October 10th, 2007 at 9:25 pm

by the way excuse the spelling it was late and I can not seem to find the edit button.

Left by jonathan on October 10th, 2007 at 9:27 pm

here is the revised version…gotta love spell check

I have had many jobs in the past and I have meet many people of diffrent races in my past. And currently i have found myself wondering….”what is wrong with this country” What is wrong with our people. We were once a nation that imbraced its cultural diffrences. And now as i drive down the streets I come across bumper stickers and signs telling me that I am in america and I should talk english! I mean come on people we were a country that was raised by the sweat off the imagrants brow! down here in florida I come across countless mirgant workers and, yes most of them are ilegal, But I have never seen a harder working more humble group ever in my life. I would love to see your average “american” out there in the feilds as the sun is beating down on your back picking tomatoes, squash, or what ever the hell is in season. We are a country that has grown fat an complacent on the backs of these people that have come from countries that have had nothing! nothing at all. And they come here for a better life a chance for their children. They see a golden oppurtunity here that their counrtys can not afford to give for what ever reason. I find these workers to be now the true ameicans! they are the ones striving to make a better life….they are the ones that are improving themselves and their families every day slowly but surely us home grown “natives” just sit back on our ass’s and waddle through the supermarket buying produce that they picked for us to eat. An for you nay sayers out there who may say I might not have a proper perspective about my views . first of all piss off, and futhermore I am only 25 and I have already seen a good chunk of the world. From the decadent high rises in thailand to the slums of peru I have seen how the world is. And let me tell you the world is laughing at us now. What petty actions we take against not just this man but everything we do, is shown on the world stage. And the rest of the world is waiting to see what we do next. Our next blunder our next near fanatical fasination with some celeb. Were did we go wrong, were are the leaders that we once had that seemed to have a mission a goal a shiny bright future, if you will. We are no longer a super power we are a has been, we are simply a child that has been given the keys to the SUV and the proud proper parents of our past have left the house for the weekend….oh yeah and we also fired the maid cause she can not speak english!!

Left by jonathan on October 10th, 2007 at 9:29 pm

I think that Mr. Pedro Zapeta should get his money. I am hopeful that Americans will send his lawyer money, to put aside for Mr. Zapeta. I hope that he will get even more money that was taken from him!!!!!

Left by Tina on November 2nd, 2007 at 10:41 am

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